Three Simple Object Lessons from a Baker’s Cyst
Last November, I told you about the stairs in our house and my goal to run up and down them. No, I’m not there yet. In fact, I encountered a small difficulty.
I expected sore muscles, that’s a given. I knew there would be days when the stairs would be my absolute enemy. However, I didn’t expect such continuous pain behind my right knee.
Knee Pain
I did all the things one does. I rested, took ibuprofen to reduce inflammation, googled different stretches, on and on. Here’s the truth: I would get better for a day or two, and then I wouldn’t be better.
I made a doctor’s appointment as one does when one moves to a new location. At my appointment, I mentioned the ongoing pain behind my knee, and she referred me to a physical therapist. At my first PT appointment, my physical therapist determined I have a Baker’s cyst.
Lessons from a Baker’s Cyst
A Baker’s cyst is a fluid filled growth behind the knee. Chronic stress, a tear in the meniscus, or arthritis can cause a Baker’s cyst. Oh joy. I am now on a six-week physical therapy plan to strengthen my muscles and relieve the stress on my knee. Our hope is the swelling in the cyst will go down and stay down as stress on the knee is reduced. Problem solved!
As I pondered my knee dilemma, I learned three things.
- I didn’t have the knowledge to fix the problem. I tried everything I knew but to no avail. Therefore, I needed to find someone who knew more than I did.
- The body is so very interconnected! One can provide time and space for an area of the body to heal by strengthening another part of the body. The newly strengthened area keeps the body from overcompensating and creating new problems.
- One must trust the process and do the assignments given, even if it doesn’t make much sense.
A Baker’s Cyst Object Lesson
Holy Spirit prompted me to look at the three lessons in light of our spiritual life.
We Don’t Know Everything
First of all, we don’t always have the knowledge to know how to manage a situation well in our lives. True, God has given us His Word, and we can both pray and pour over scripture to gain wisdom (James 1:5). However, we may not understand a passage, or we are too emotionally entrenched within a circumstance to see things objectively. The reality is none of us is wise enough to know everything.
Proverbs 13:10b says, “…wisdom is gained by those who take advice.” Verse 14 states, “A wise person’s instruction is a fountain of life, turning people away from the snares of death.” Proverbs 15:14a tells us, “A discerning mind seeks knowledge…” Verse 22 declares, “Plans fail when there is no counsel, but with many advisors they succeed.”
We Need Each Other
Second, just as our physical body is interconnected, the body of Christ is also interconnected. Paul says in Romans 12:4-5, “Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.” Simply put, we need each other.
My physical therapist has me doing exercises to strengthen my quads and my hips. I understand this means the larger muscle groups in my legs will do the greater work. Therefore, I will place less stress on my knees.
In the body of Christ, each of us has seasons when we are strong. We can carry heavier loads emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually. In addition, we also have seasons when we cannot carry such heavy loads. Perhaps we are grieving, or we are experiencing physical illness, or we are under spiritual attack. In those moments, we must be willing to rely on others and not think less of ourselves. God planned the body for such a purpose.
Trust God
Lastly, we must trust God and the process He chooses. We are not Christians because we are so amazing and have earned the “Christ Badge.” We are Christians because Christ gave Himself for us on the cross and we have accepted His gift of grace. His righteousness rests on us and God sees us as holy, welcoming us into His presence with joy. God began the work, and He will complete it (Philippians 1:6).
We trust that God is always working on our behalf to transform us by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). We trust the Spirit to help us in our weakness and to intercede for us. In addition, we choose to believe God will work all things together for our best (Romans 8:26-28). We know God will strengthen us with His power because He fortifies us with His own armor (Ephesians 6:10-18). So, we choose to act in obedience to all God asks of us because we love Him and we trust Him (John 14).
God is Always Faithful
I admit, I don’t like doing my assigned physical therapy exercises every day. Some days, I still experience pain behind my knee and I feel discouraged. However, I am trusting the physical therapist’s knowledge as well as the process.
Many times, I don’t find great joy as I sit and read my Bible in the morning. However, I choose to search for wisdom. When I don’t understand, I explore reliable sources for more definitive answers. I may not always appreciate the counsel my friends give me, but I go to them for accountability when I struggle. In addition, I am not a particularly patient person. And sometimes, I must wait on God and trust the process. He has never failed me. Never. His mercies truly are new every morning and His faithfulness is great.
