I only know life with asthma and allergies. I have (or have not) followed doctor’s orders in regards to which treatments to try over the many years. Needless to say, quite literally it has been a long journey to breathe – whether the blockage is in my lungs or nose. Although I have endured as junk has been exposed, the process has not been pretty.
Back in 2019, my ENT said that the only treatment to help my chronic sinusitis is surgery. So I respectfully said, “No, thank you”. I did, however, decide to make some diet changes instead that seemed to be fairly helpful.
Fast forward five years – 2024 was one of the most challenging times with regards to my allergies. After several antibiotic and steroid treatments over a few months without getting any results, I met with the surgeon, prayed and set the surgery date.
Physical Surgery
July 15, 2024, the surgeon went to work inside my nose. He straitened my septum, fixed my turbinate, removed several polyps and made holes in my nose to help with airflow. The only treatment that I needed to continue post-surgery was a daily regimen of saline sinus rinse, which I was quite familiar with. This treatment would push the gross junk out of my nose, with the goal of allowing me to breathe better. The rinse never worked in the past, but I was hopeful it would help after surgery.
I won’t get into any of the horrendous post-surgery details, but not only could I still not breathe out of my nose, I was still having multiple sinus infections.
Fix all things?
The surgery was suppose to fix all things related to the health and airflow of my nose. But instead I continued to have one sinus infection after another as well as my entire body began to experience the beginnings of chronic pain. I had to press the “pause” button on jogging and ask for daily help with normal chores and certain activities.
To get rid of the infection my doctor directed me to add different antibiotic/steroid type solutions into my daily saline sinus rinse routine, and if one didn’t work to try another…and another.
I couldn’t understand why I was still having sinus infections since the reason I had the surgery in the first place was supposed to fix that problem (and to help me breathe better). I was convinced, however, that I knew the reason why my entire body was now in chronic pain – it was due to the lingering infection in my nose – inflammation – and until that went away, I would remain in pain.
Results!
Three weeks ago I started experiencing the benefits of the surgery – I actually started breathing consistently and no more junk was coming out of my nose – and I noticed that my body was in less pain! Halleluiah, thank you Jesus!
This past week my ENT confirmed that my infection was gone – but I was surprised to hear his “although”…some polyps had grown back.
He once again gave me his expert medical advice to get rid of the polyps – another surgery or continue with the daily saline rinse adding another solution to the rinse.
I chose the latter.
God is The Immutable Precise Great Surgeon
God is immutable and in the details of my life and yours – relating to each of us with the precision of a perfect surgeon.
Ezekiel 36:25-28 tells us that God, The Great Surgeon, performed a spiritual heart surgery on us at the moment of our conversion. He took our gross junky idolatrous sin-filled heart and exchanged it with a clean new heart fueled by the power of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to joyfully obey The Word of God (Romans 7:22).
Even though I had used saline solution in my nose prior to surgery, it wasn’t until after my sinus surgery that the saline rinse could actually start to work properly. I basically had to get a “new nasal passage” first so that the saline could flow in and out of my nasal cavities allowing me to breathe better.
Habits of Grace
God is taking the gross junk and making something beautiful in and through us (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
In God’s mercy, He cut out our sinful heart of stone and replaced it with a new heart of flesh that is pliable, soft and humble – able to live like Christ did (Ephesians 5:1-2).
If we allow the Living Water to flow in and through us after The Great Surgeon gives us a new heart, we will experience the freedom that the Bible talks about (John 7:37-39, Psalm 119:45).
To flourish, we must daily practice habits of grace – Bible reading, prayer, scripture memorization/meditation, engaging in worship music, etc.
If we slack in these daily disciplines, we should expect the gross junk to return.
Or maybe we are not necessarily slacking in our grace habits, but we may need to change it up or add something else – like having an accountability partner, attending Bible study, serving at church, sharing the gospel, etc.
Endurance for the Long Journey
Even though we have a new heart that doesn’t by any means infer that our life will be easy. Actually, it will be harder because we are continuingly fighting the gross junk.
Heaven awaits and we will endure because Christ endured (John 14:2, Hebrews 12:2).
Even though my nasal passage has been remade by the surgeon and the infection is gone (as of now), I must continue to do my daily saline rinse. And if I want to try to remove the growing polyps, I need to include this other solution in my rinse.
How’s it going?
God is continually teaching us a spiritual lesson through all of life’s experiences. Just like Jesus taught people parables through farming, sheep, salt, bread, etc., God continues to personally teach us earthly lessons that have heavenly meanings (Matthew 13).
How are you doing in your “daily rinse”? What spiritual disciplines have you implemented into your day? Do you need to change or add something? How different do you look since the first day The Great Surgeon performed surgery on you?
You have the power to walk as Christ did – the Holy Spirit lives in you (Ephesians 1:13-14). Be aware of the gross junk slipping back into your heart/mind and make sure you do all that you can to keep any kind of blockage away between you and your gracious God (Matthew 5:30). He started the process and although life is quite gross and junky at times, it will all be worth it as we step from earth into eternity enjoying the marriage supper with The Beloved Lamb as His invited blood bought guest (Revelation 19:6-9).