I think life-changing accidents happen for a reason. Last April, I injured my shoulder while lifting and finished it off with a fall that made it much worse. I had no choice—to regain the normal use of my left arm, radical rotator cuff repair surgery was necessary. On the first of May I had the surgery, and now, three-and-a-half months later, I am still struggling to regain that normalcy. Both the surgeon and the physical therapists say that I’m right on schedule in what is usually a six-month process. It has been a very painful and frustrating journey, but my desire to regain the full use of my left arm compels me onward.

Indeed, I believe all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) This ordeal has occasioned a great deal of introspection, and I have come to believe the Lord intended this for my good and his glory. So, indulge me a bit as I share some of the lessons I’m learning through the recovery process.

Finding Humility

I had been taking really good care of myself for at least the last seven years. Having a group of guys at church keeping you accountable and encouraging you to be fit has been a great blessing. We’ve basically memorized the famous P90X workout and have gone on from there to bigger and better things. I am ashamed to admit this, but I think what happened is that the discipline of daily workouts and eating right developed a certain sinful pride in me. I became too fond of compliments about how I looked and too critical of those who were less disciplined. The deception was so subtle. I had convinced myself that my motivation was to keep my vessel in honor by keeping the temple in tip-top shape. Then suddenly, the injury completely ended my workouts. What I’m learning is that there is a difference between discipline and legalism. Legalism is selfish: doing what we do in order to gain something for ourselves. Discipline is selfless: doing what we do in order to please the Lord.

Following the Process

Recovering from rotator cuff surgery is similar to spiritual recovery. Right after the surgery, the doctor handed me a set of notes outlining how my recovery would proceed. It would follow a three-step process: healing, stretching, and strengthening. I know, sounds like a sermon outline doesn’t it? But there are some definite parallels which have helped me grow spiritually and better understand how the Lord is using this in my life.

1. Healing

The fall and subsequent surgery landed me in shut-down mode. The healing stage is a time when you’re forced to accept what you cannot do. And sleeping in a chair for six weeks is no picnic! Doing little things like putting on a t-shirt required assistance. My wife referred to me as her “little invalid.” Not funny! But in order to heal, I had to keep my arm in a sling and do nothing.

Spiritual recovery begins in much the same way. Faced with your own weakness and inability, you come to understand that without Christ you can do nothing (John 15:5). The Lord will humble us to remind us how desperately we need him. Healing is coming to the end of our strength to find his, the scrapping of our agenda to do His will, and the seeking of his glory above our own.

2. Stretching

I’m convinced that physical therapists have a sadistic streak and get pleasure out of our pain. Because the tendon has been cut and reattached it’s shorter now, and the scar tissue requires stretching. Therapy is a slow and painful process that involves regularly scheduled exercises and manipulation to regain motion. Without this, the tendon would “freeze” where any movement of your shoulder causes pain, and your shoulder's range of motion starts to become limited.

In like manner, personal godliness never comes easy. The Christian life requires spiritual sweat! The apostle Paul likened it to a race, and the runners must abide by the rules and bring their bodies into subjection (1 Corinthians 9:25-27). Spiritual stretching means we make those painful choices so that we will not “freeze” our soul and stop growing. We must remove anything in our lives that hinders us in the race (Hebrews 12:1). Any relationship, habit or carnal tendency that restricts and encumbers personal godliness must be shed. It’s a painful but necessary part of the recovery process.

3. Strengthening

After a few months, my therapists introduced light weights. It’s important that the muscles and tendons be strengthened since they’ve been significantly weakened by surgery and during the long healing process. For me, the return to lifting, even small weights, was encouraging. It gave me hope that I would eventually make it all the way back.

If stretching means the painful removal of things in our lives, strengthening means adding those things that make us spiritually strong. Godly disciplines like personal private worship, fellowship, stewardship, and ministry will add bulk to spiritual muscles. Paul exhorted Timothy to “train” himself for godliness (1 Timothy 4:7). The word he used is the word from which we get our word “gym” and refers to rigorous striving. Regaining spiritual strength requires directing all your energy in the pursuit of godliness.

Accepting Pain for Gain

On the road to recovery, I keep reminding myself that without pain there will be no gain. And in my spiritual walk I learn that personal godliness never comes easy. Concerning the godliness to which Paul exhorted Timothy he said, “for to this end we toil and strive.” The word “strive” is the word from which we get our word “agonize.” Why should we expect spiritual growth to be automatic, easy, and without cost?

I can tell you: this injury has brought me to a new realization of how desperately I need the Lord every single day. And I would encourage you to allow the process to run its course in your life. Come to see your own inadequacy and learn to depend on Christ completely. Make those painful choices to get rid of those things in your life that hinder spiritual growth. To gain spiritual strength develop godly habits that feed your inner man. And remember, it’s never easy, but then, why should it be?