Walking Tall, Walking Strong

I feel that I could write for hours trying to explain the significance of what God has done for me. But for the purposes of upbuilding and encouragement I think that something short and sweet is just the sort to treat.

A little known personal history would probably help to set the stage for those who do not know me well. For the last five years I have had a variety of knee problems. The initial issues sparked while I was still in high school while I was working at a small pet store. The first doctor initially diagnosed one condition (osteochondritis dissecans), suggesting that I had damage to the cartilage in my right knee causing a popping noise when I squatted. It was probably caused by a handful of things -- heavy lifting at work, jumping from a high spot onto concrete, my involvement in baseball and kickboxing at the time, etc. Regardless of what caused it, the doctor offered physical therapy, which helped for a bit. But the popping never really went away. I would try stints of physical therapy twice more over the next few years with the same result that the immediate pain would temporarily alleviate but no doctor could find what the real cause was.

Fast forward a few years to three months ago. I started having knee pain again, but different and more severe than before. On a trip home to Northern California I saw a new orthopedist, who initially didn't have an explanation. That was until he saw the new MRI that showed that I had a complex medial meniscus tear. Again, the offer was physical therapy and pain medication. But this time surgery was offered as a permanent solution.

Surgery meant I would have to uproot myself from the niche I've made here and move home. For a while I felt like whether or not I stayed or moved was dependent on whether I went for the surgery or begged God to heal me.

Two weeks ago, I approached a friend on the Rock Harbor Fullerton prayer team about getting prayer for my knee after the service. He grabbed one or two guys who grabbed a couple more and before I knew it, a half dozen brothers in Christ were intensely beseeching the Lord on my behalf while I sat perched on a speaker. It was powerful and it was impacting. Apart from my knee, it helped to clear up some of the issues with which I had been dealing, especially with regard to God showing the path he has for me in moving or not moving home. God healing me or not healing me would not inhibit or determine the plan that he has for my life.

I got home from Rock Harbor that night and realized, my knee didn't really hurt. It felt kinda loose and weak, but I really didn't have any pain. The next day I got up and walked to work completely pain free. I had been in a small car accident the week before that let me without a means of getting to work except for my own two feet. God brought me to the lowest point, walking three miles a day on an injured knee, dealing with aching pain. And then he healed me.

I've been pain free since that day. Every passing day my knee seems to get stronger. I had always been a skeptic, and still am about many things. But God can and does heal, no doubt about it. I desire to live every day in a relationship with this God who loves me, this God who healed me. What faith I had before has been revolutionized in light of how I have seen God tangibly work in my life. Because of that I feel comfortable just sitting, basking in the love of the Father.

Again, this is my prayer: "I ask for the grace I want; here I ask Our Lord for grace not to be deaf to His call, but alert to fulfill his most holy will to the best of my ability."

I'm going to walk to work tomorrow. And I'm going to thank the Lord every step of the way.