The New Guy

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When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. Acts 9:26

So, for the past few weeks, I have been recovering from hip replacement surgery. (I know, thousands of people have had this procedure. But millions of women have gone through childbirth, too. That doesn’t mean it’s not a big deal to the one it’s happening to.)

Having had a relatively easy life so far, I found the first few days to be an eye-opening experience. The literature about what the surgery entailed was disturbing, but the fact that it is such a common operation, led me to expect … well, I’m not sure what I was expecting.

From the first moments of consciousness after the surgery, I was given a walker and encouraged (ordered) to walk. That’s right, folks. Having had a section of one femur cut off, I was to put my weight on what was left and walk on it! I’ve never broken a leg, but I’m pretty sure walking on it is not the usual recommended course of treatment. But I was told I should continue to get up and walk around for 3 minutes at least every couple of hours.

Sometime during the second day, the anesthesia started wearing off in a bit of an O-my-GOSH! moment. Pain meds, I had been told, were for pain management, not “pain elimination.” So, pain became a constant companion at one level or another. Opioids were a blessing those first few days, but they weren’t for long-term use, and getting weaned off them as soon as possible without doing if too soon was a balancing act.

When getting up in the middle of the night that first week, I sometimes found myself shaking uncontrollably, my teeth chattering, even though I didn’t feel particularly cold. My physical therapist explained it as a sign that my body had been severely traumatized. (Gee, ya think?) It would seem the rest of my body was coming to terms with the fact that there was a large foreign object invading the system, and as imperfect as the old system was, we were not exactly welcoming the invader with open arms.

On Day Two a physical therapist came to my house, a delightful woman who showed me exercises and stretches I needed to do several times a day in addition to the regular walking. Compliant to a fault, I’ve been doing these religiously and painstakingly – literally.

In the first couple of weeks, when I wasn’t doing the physical therapy, I was dealing with something else I’m not used to – being waited on. I have always been more comfortable being the one waiting on others. Now before you think I have some marvelous “servant’s heart,” I should tell you, it’s not any admirable selflessness on my part. It’s just that with my touch of ADHD, I’d much rather be moving and serving than just sitting, especially sitting waiting for someone else to do things for me.

So, with all this in mind, I continued the milder pain meds, napping a lot, trying to ditch my pride and self-sufficiency, praying for patience, and doing the therapy consistently 2-3 times a day. My body still complained, but not as loudly as it did at first. So, I pressed on, knowing in the long run this new hip will be an asset.

And I thought about the apostle Paul.

In the early days of the Church, believers (the Body of Christ) were experiencing extreme trauma – intense persecution from the religious establishment, notably Saul of Tarsus. He would routinely have believers in Jesus hunted down, arrested, and thrown in prison. So, it’s understandable that when word got around that Paul had become a zealous believer himself, the Body of Christ was very reluctant to accept him as “the new guy.” With his background as a Pharisee and one who had overseen the execution of the first martyr, Stephen, he didn’t seem to fit in, to say the least. Everywhere he preached the gospel, there were some who believed and others who opposed him, sometimes violently. Even within the Church there were those who had problems with him, and on more than one occasion Paul had to deal with painful divisions in the Body.

We believers in the 21st century have the advantage of hindsight. We know what the early Christians didn’t – that Saul of Tarsus, who became the apostle Paul, was one of the greatest leaders of the Church in the first century. His letters make up about one third of the New Testament, and millions have benefitted from them to this day.

So, although the Church of Jesus Christ might have had a hard time accepting and adjusting to Paul, in the long run he proved to be one of their greatest assets.

Is there something (or someone) in your life that has seemingly invaded your space, that you feel “doesn’t belong,” that is just a little too different from what you’ve become accustomed to? Have you taken the matter to the Lord? And has He revealed that, uncomfortable as you might be with this new development, it’s part of His plan for you? Is accommodating this new element of your life going to require a little extra work on your part – maybe painful work? We all have times like these, when we must make a choice: We can either complain and resist God’s plan, or we can believe that He knows what He’s doing infinitely better than we do. It’s likely that this new inconvenience (or invasion) could become something He uses in your life in a mighty way.

It could end up being the titanium in your hip. It could end up being the Paul in your church.

Prayer: Lord, You never cease to surprise me with the variety of things You bring my way to mold me and direct my life. Help me to be malleable, trusting, and eagerly anticipating the unfolding of Your plan, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Published by seekingdivineperspective

I am a forgiven sinner and adopted child of God, seeking to see life from His perspective - as opposed to the world's flawed perspective - and living my life accordingly.

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32 thoughts on “The New Guy”

  4. Praying for the pain to end quickly Annie. You are otherwise in very fit condition, so I hope you will be back to your busy lifestyle soon!

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    1. Thanks, Nancy. It was one of those things where once I finally started to feel better, the recovery went really fast. After one setback (getting excited and trying to do too much too soon 🙄) (relapse of pride, I think🙄) I’m feeling great again – and taking it slow this time …😏

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  6. Sounds so painful Ann but also glad to hear that you are on the mend and I pray that your recovery will go well and you will soon be pain free. And thank you for this reminder to not fight or resist God when inconveniences happen. May we surrender and allow God to lead and teach us.

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  7. May God bless you as you press ahead in your recovery. I had no idea, in spite of knowing so many who have come through this procedure. Thank you for taking the time to turn your pain into an opportunity to tell us about those “New Guys” we come across now and then. Blessings my sister.

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  9. I’m sorry you have had to go through this, Annie, but you do seem to have the right attitude as you face it with God’s help. Your post reminded me of a recent one I wrote: https://wordpress.com/post/bradymarka.com/5856

    You have come to mind several times lately. That means you have been prayed for, and I know there are many others praying for you as well. You are right. God WILL use this experience someday to help someone else. Endure to the end and come out victorious!

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  11. Glad you’re recuperating well and were given a new hip …just like Saul was given a new life in Jesus, may we never fail to give others, possibly the new guy, a chance at a new beginning so that God can be glorified!!

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  13. God wrenched Jacob’s hip out of its socket and he went away limping. However, Jacob received his new name Israel. Sometimes it is in our greatest pains that we see the face of God the clearest. God never promises to bring us to himself physically whole, but we can rest assured that He never wastes a hurt, there is purpose in our suffering. May you continue shining for Christ through this affliction and may He continue revealing Himself to you. I know your physical therapist is thankful for having a motivated patient like yourself! Lots of love, hugs, and blessings!!!!

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      1. Praise Jesus!!!! I am so happy to hear this!!! It was from having my own surgery and rehab that God brought me to be a physical therapist assistant. It is one of the few fields where you make progress! God used physical therapy as my training grounds for seminary/ministry! I’m sure you’ve read either Brand and Yancey’s “Pain, The Gift No One Wants” or Yancey’s, “Where is God When it Hurts” which discusses how lepers do not feel pain and so there is a reason to praise God in the pain. I’ve seen some terrible things from diabetics with neuropathy and didn’t realize they stepped on something or had a wound since they couldn’t feel traditional pain. If you don’t have this, I would LOVE to send this to you!!!! I think you’ll really like it! https://books.google.com/books?id=Mh7ep3GMh5AC&pg=PA11&source=kp_read_button&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&gboemv=1&ovdme=1#v=onepage&q&f=false

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    2. I read “Where is God When It Hurts?” Good book! True, pain is a gift from God. It’s how we learn. Even on a spiritual level, it’s what let’s the unregenerate person know (s)he has a need and what eventually leads to repentance and salvation. One of the saddest things I know is an unbeliever that’s content and thinks he’s “fine.” 😕

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  15. Prayers for a smooth recovery! This sounds a lot like my husband’s shoulder surgery years ago. They started him on physical therapy the day after. It was incredibly painful but kept him from building up scar tissue that would have been even more painful later to break through for full mobility. The therapy every day was worth it as he has 100% mobility now, but it definitely took some diligence.

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  17. I’m not fan of the new pain management approach. I think it’s a reaction to a problem that not everyone has. But anyway, I hope your pain is much better now! 🙏 As for unwanted intruders, well , poor health is always on the list. Mine or someone I love’s. And I’m surrounded by that right now. I’m trying to be like Paul and I trust that God has a plan and a purpose. 💕

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