Bad disk in a fat preacher

I have had and interesting two weeks. I woke up Tuesday morning Feb. 5th with unbelievable pain in my hip and down my leg. I could not stand up or walk. Being stupid I thought I could power through and go to work. I started getting dress and almost passed out.

I made it to the couch and called Brian to take me to the doctor. Going to the doctor is always the last thing on my mind. I then called my friend John Gladden and he came and hauled me to a great surgeon. After laying on the floor in his office until he could fit me in I discovered that I had a lower back stress fracture and would be facing surgery.

I had the surgery Wed. Feb. 13th and I am on the mend. My surgeon is brilliant. He removed the bad disk and told my wife I needed to lose 20 pounds. He could have left the last part off but oh well. I have already lost around 40 pounds so I didn’t tell him how fat I was.

I say all of this to say. God really speaks through your pain. I was completely bed ridden in great pain. I could not do basic things. I was in a very humble position. Pain will do that. I was in a desperate position. Pain will do that. I was not in control. Pain will do that. I needed Jesus. I have never experienced this level of dependence. C. S. Lewis says that God shouts to us in our pain. He is right.

The night after my surgery I could not sleep and spent the whole night in prayer. I was mostly thankful and spent most of the night saying thank you. I also had some clear direction from God regarding direction and character. I am very excited about the days ahead. What I have learned most is that God will leverage your pain for His glory. Let Him. Now this might seem strange but, I would go through this again to experience God like I have. I can’t wait to see the good he brings and the lives that are changed because of a bad disk in a fat preacher.