I knew it immediately. When my board got stuck in the sand and the wave crushed me into it, I knew. Been there,  done that. No more running for a month. No more tennis. No more riding waves. The doctor nodded his confirmation and offered me his sympathy – nothing can be done. One, maybe two broken ribs on the right side. It’s like déjà vu.

It is three in the morning. The pain is bad. I felt suffocating, hot, hungry. Got up to get pain pills, some coffee, and rusks, some fresh air. Cried out to God. He is here and that is comforting. Read some verses about his love from Psalm 36.  Maybe this is God’s way of slowing me down so that I  can rest in him.

Or maybe this is his way of forming compassion in me for those with chronic pain like my own mother. Suddenly I understand something of what she told us a few days ago. She goes to bed as late as possible to keep the night as short as she can. She suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and despite numerous operations and daily pain medication, her knees are currently keeping her awake at night. Whatever it is I know that God has a reason. And I’ve learned to trust his reasons. Not that I don’t beg him to take away the pain. 🙂

Romans 8:28 is well-known but worth repeating:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

I suppose this “all things” probably includes the temporary inconvenience of a couple of broken ribs? What do you think? So yeah, this is the thought to keep me hopeful during the long painful night. There is a reason and whatever it is, it will be for my good since I love the One who allowed it and He loves me and has a purpose for me.

 

Keep running (unless you have any broken bones)

Stephan