Karl is having knee surgery this afternoon. In the grand scheme of things, it isn’t a major concern…two small incisions and a few snips of his meniscus. Oh, I know that I’m ignorant completely about the procedure and what it entails, but we’ve been assured by our able and knowledgeable doctor that he can handle it. So, we are willing to let him. Interesting. We’ve met the man twice. I don’t know his middle name, I don’t know if he’s married or has kids. I don’t know what motivates him. Not sure if he goes to church or if he likes ketchup on his fries. In what really counts, the man is a stranger. Yet, by virtue of his credentials, we are willing to trust him to invade Karl’s body with sharp instruments with the hope and assurance that Karl’s knee will feel better afterward. Hmmm.
As I sit here this morning, I can’t help but see the lesson, and the irony, of this situation. So often I have trouble trusting God. I have trouble saying to Him, ‘Thy will be done.’ I am well acquainted with God’s character – His faithfulness, His power, His unmitigated love for me. I know His desire to draw me to Himself. I know these things because the Bible reveals God’s truth and also because I have felt and seen His faithfulness in my life. I am convinced, because I have seen it over and over, that He intends only good for me. I KNOW God, yet I struggle with trust. When God asks me to endure pain or hardship so that I can grow and heal, I rebel, I resist. But when a stranger with a diploma on the wall tells me he’s going cut into Karl’s knee, cause pain, and require therapy afterwards, I nod and say okay. Yikes.
Later today, I’m going to sit in a waiting room, waiting to hear the results of this procedure. But, instead of putting my trust in our doctor, I’m going to concentrate on trusting the Great Physician instead.
