I’ve been seeing a physiotherapist. She is great. I think she’s a nice person.

This opinion continues from the moment I walk into the studio until she starts treating me. When the treatment begins, I start to think less charitably of her.

I’m having some muscle issues. A particular few are not behaving as they ought, leaving a greater strain on some other muscles in the neighbourhood, resulting in overload and restricted movement. I do not like the process for fixing this while it’s happening. It hurts, and it costs money. It takes time away from the other productive things that I should be doing.

For the week or so after the treatment, though, things improve a little. I can move more easily and do the exercises for strengthening that will lead to ultimate realignment and success. This, in turn, will lead to me being able to resume the forms of exercise that energise and recharge me. It will help me to move without hindrance through daily life and trust this body, this jar of clay, to obey commands involving normal gait and movement, in comfort instead of discomfort.

I was thinking about the obvious parallels, as I lay with a heat pack on some sore muscles, between what’s going on with my physical muscles, and what I feel Jesus is teaching me in my spiritual walk.

When I am corrected, be it a pride or learning to trust Him more, it kind of hurts. It brings about discomfort, and it hurts my ‘feelings’. If I’m not careful; this can lead to me taking offence and thereby not taking that gentle lead of the Holy Spirit into a place of realignment and correction.

Unlike with my physio (who I really do like), the pain and struggle is in my soul and it’s not expensive to fix. How do I work through it? There’s a few steps involved for me. First, I need to acknowledge that my ways are not necessarily the best ways.

“I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.”

Psalm 119:59

Goodbye pride.

When I say goodbye to pride, I can step back and look at the big picture. I can consider that while this may hurt for a little while, or may not appear to be the easiest route in front or me or the route that others are needing to take right now, my hope is that the result will be God’s glory. For what other purpose can I truly hope to live?

“Therefore in the east give glory to the Lord; exalt the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea.”

Isaiah 24:15

Hello, humility.

Then, if I am honest, I may still struggle, but eventually, I will turn to prayer and praise, for I know that they are my finest weapons and the healing tools that God has given to all of us. The posture of kneeling, of weeping, of raising hands while my head is bowed, does deep realignment within my soul.

“I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.”

Psalm 30:1

I don’t have this completely figured out yet. I do have the biblical pattern, though, for realignment and seeking God’s glory. I do have the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit who can calm even the stormiest battles that wage within my soul. And I do have the secure knowledge that I belong to Jesus, struggles and all, and He is not done with me yet.