Thoughtful Thursday

Where Does It Hurt?

Several years ago, I was told that I had gallstones. I assured everyone that I was asymptomatic, so I didn’t need to take any action at that time. “I’ll be all right,” I thought to myself. It will be okay. It will get better.” Friends and family admonished me to seek further medical attention, but I never was one to go to the doctor. “You’d better have that checked out,” they’d say. “You’re going to have to have your gallbladder removed,” they’d told me. Some of them even had horror stories about people they’d known who waited too late…

But, I was stubborn. I just went about my routine from day to day. Every now and then, I would have a flare-up. I’d tough it out, telling myself that it would pass, since it came in waves. Then, the attacks came more frequently, and more severely. Again, friends and family couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t go to the doctor and have something done, before it was too late. 

Finally, after a couple of years of intermittent suffering, I was home alone. I was in so much pain and I was throwing up. My husband was working in another state, ten hours away. He called that night, and was insistent that I go to the emergency room. I was barely able to drive myself the five miles to the hospital. I was doubled over in pain. I suppose that I could have called a friend or family member, or even an ambulance, but I stubbornly tried to make it on my own. I stayed in the hospital four days, being poked and prodded and scanned. Then, it was discovered that I had a gallstone in the common duct, which can be quite serious. I had never been in so much pain, and surgery was imminent. 

Why didn’t I listen? Why didn’t I go to the doctor sooner? I could have saved myself a lot of pain and discomfort. I was just too stubborn and independent to follow reason and advice. 

Likewise, just as I could have sought help for my physical pain, others are experiencing a spiritual pain or void. We sometimes try to tell people about Jesus, and what a blessing it is to know Him, and to lean on Him, and to trust Him. He can heal our pain and fill our void. But often, they won’t listen. I don’t know why. Maybe they think they don’t need Him, or maybe they think they will be all right on their own. Or, maybe they think they can wait. So, they go about their daily routine, until they hurt…and hurt…and hurt. There is a Doctor available, who is called The Great Physician. He’s just waiting for them to come into his comforting arms…before it’s too late. 

Romans 10:14 says, “ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”

Now, we are not all, “preachers,” but we all have the ability to at least tell others about Jesus. Hopefully, once they hear, they will believe, and once they believe, they’ll take action, and call on the One who can save them. 

On the day that I had my gallbladder surgery, I was supposed to be on a plane to Nova Scotia, a most beautiful place. We had planned our vacation there, but because of my stubbornness, and because I wouldn’t listen, I missed out on this wonderful opportunity. 

Do you know someone who is hurting? Tell them what Christ has done for you. I wouldn’t want them to miss out on a MOST beautiful place. 

HAVE A GREAT THURSDAY!