I have had an adult Tonsillectomy that has been the worst experience that I have ever lived through in my entire life! The pain is unbelievable, I am constantly nauseous from lack of eating and I barely feel like a human being from all the medicine I have to take on a 4 hour basis. Lack of sleep, anger, etc. etc.
Don't get me wrong, the surgery had to be done, but I sit here debating with myself whether 10 strep-throats a year or this recovery is worse...
I know what everyone is going to say, those who try to comfort me in the midst of this. They will say "Brandon, obviously this is hard but once its done than its done! You won't have to go through the pain of 10 strep-throats a year and you only have 2 weeks of recovery! Look at the bright side, mate!"
Those are very wise words. Makes me think of two things: 1) I did not know you where Australian. and 2) Seems very similar to another piece of advice we tend to shrug off when we need it most.
That other piece of advice is this: The fact that our troubles and trials are temporary and yet the promise of the Lord is sure, leading all the way into eternity with Him.
When you go through a death, a hard time, a struggle with sin...
You Brothers and Sisters in Christ leap to try to remind you of this truth. And, if your like me, you often times shrug this away and even think of it as unhelpful. But, if we truly remember our state before God, both prior to and after the Gospel, it becomes the exact piece of truth we need to make it through the trials we have on a daily basis.
Think of verses like Psalm 27, Isaiah 41:13, Luke 10:41-41 and 1 Peter 5:7. All Reminding us to cast our cares onto the Lord and, ultimately, the reminder that all this pain and sorrow is fleeting in comparison to eternity.
Here is what the Apostle Paul has to say about it from Romans 8:
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
My pain from the Tonsillectomy will end soon and I won't have to deal with it anymore. More importantly, I won't have to deal with the constant struggles of frequent sickness. Seems like the ends may justify the means this time around. The same can be said when you are going through even the hardest trials and yet you look to eternity and remember that You are Baptized in Christ.
Jesus walks with you in those trials, leading you to see eternity with Him as the end goal.
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33