Stitches or Duct Tape?

No matter what, I was going to suffer.  Suffering was part of the agenda for the day, whether I wanted it or not!  It started when a screwdriver stopped screwing and started stabbing.  My thumb served as the victim and I had a nasty, big, gash that I thought I could manage with some creative taping.  I gave it my best shot but after 12 hours of working, coaching a track meet, and countless adjustments of my method I gave up and waltzed into an urgent care for some professional help.

At first the Physician Assistant looked at me and thought I used duct tape to try to stop the suffering.  I didn’t, but I did admit that thought did cross my mind!  Duct tape does do some amazing things after all.  I then showed her my duct tape wallet, which is a great way to promote financial suffering.  People always feel bad for me when I take out my wallet that is ENTIRELY made of duct tape. 

She took a look and confirmed that I was crazy for thinking I could get it to heal without some extra help, i.e. stitches.  She then devised a plan that would end my suffering.  My suffering would end after 12 hours of avoiding the one place that could have probably helped more efficiently than my 3 rolls of tape and my adhesive ingenuity.  My tape, or even duct tape for that matter, was not going to do anything other than cover up the mess.  They would clean the wound a bit more, give me two shots of a numbing agent, and then finally stitch me up with 4 stitches and I would walk out well on my way to hand healing.  Easy peasy!

After the cleaning I endured the two shots that were to numb my hand.  I won’t lie, they were painful and when they say “a little prick” it felt more like a “long needle will be placed in your hand for an unusually long time”. More suffering.  Whether it was the location on my thumb or the sight of a needle repeatedly jabbing my hand like the giant screwdriver did in the morning, I was not a fan. 

They were so optimistic that the stitches would go well after my numbing.  And I was following their lead and actually believing that I wouldn’t feel a thing.  But I did.  I felt it all.  The needle prick.  The stitches being pulled through and tied off.  Suffering.

I was feeling the weight of the stitches without any of the effects of the numbing agent.  Apparently, my doctor noticed as well and offered to give me an additional couple of shots to make the pain go away.  I declined because I felt like I could hang on a little while longer without having more holes put in my hand.  I just needed to suffer a little bit longer…

Suffering a bit longer.  Doesn’t sound like fun does it?  And yet I remembered those exact words from the Bible.  The Bible!  It’s in 1 Peter 5:10 and says that “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have SUFFERED A LITTLE WHILE, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.”  Well, It’s right there; we are called to a relationship with God through Jesus and yet we will suffer “a little while” before moving on to the restoration and strengthening.  Wow.  It’s like needles and stitches pulling skin together so that eventually there will be a strong bond.  But first there will be some suffering.  There’s going to be some wounds to heal. 

It makes you wonder if we often view faith in the wrong light.  We may think of faith as a way to avoid suffering.  Or we may avoid God all together because why would he let us suffer so much? 

Jesus knows a thing or two about suffering.

Suffering is part of life on earth, it’s part of the human experience and not just saved for some dummies with screwdrivers.  Suffering comes in all kinds of forms and functions.  I happen to be an expert at physical suffering as I have a long history of competing in long distance running and cycling events.  The suffering there has a reward in the form of a finish line or personal record time.

We can suffer emotionally and mentally as well.  Our hearts can just grow cold and weary by the weight of the world or we can struggle to believe that something will turn for the good.

When it comes to suffering in any of these areas, we want it to be over.  We also want the gains from enduring “a little while”.

Truth be told I think that faith is shared when others see you suffer a little while.  It stinks to say that, but the world understands suffering.  And when we trust, endure, and let God strengthen our wounds then we will be strong, firm, and steadfast.  That’s a testimony.  A story.  Encouragement for the lost, the desperate, and the doubting.

The doctor finished the 4 stitches and I survived my “little while” of suffering.  My gash was reduced to a slight sliver, with the stitches pulling the skin together so that my thumb would eventually heal.  It will most likely have a legit scar as well, which will serve as a reminder of the time I endured some discomfort but ended up healed and healthy.

Are you suffering a “little while” now?  Don’t give up.  Don’t give up on the season that God has you in and what it might become.  Don’t give up on God.  Don’t give up on your gifts, talents, and possibilities due to a little suffering.  The battle isn’t yours to fight alone but you have to stay on the battlefield.  The timing is unknown but the growth will be worth it all.  The stitches are being pulled and there’s healing ahead.  There’s not a thing on earth that is superior to a faith that is being forged in the suffering. 

Covering with duct tape is nothing compared to the strength of suffering with stitches.  Hang in there a little while longer friend.