Following God: A Process of Dying to Self
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The other day I went to my massage therapist. It had been about 6-8 weeks since my last massage and I was overdue. I have a long-term disease with chronic pain and need regular massage therapy to lessen the pain.
I could feel the weight of physical, emotional and even spiritual burdens manifesting themselves in my body. It hurt to climb stairs. I struggled to carry things and do chores. I had ongoing headaches. I felt a weariness in my muscles and limbs. My neck and back hurt waking up and while at work. I felt chronic fatigue. I knew I was carrying pain inside of my body and that I needed this healing touch.
Throughout the entire massage my therapist spoke of how much pain I was carrying in my body, how bad my back was, the knots in my neck, and overall, what a bad state my body was in. At the end of the massage he said to me, “Don’t wait so long next time to come back.”
I think that was God echoing through him that day. How often we prolong and procrastinate steps for our healing -- whether that’s physical, emotional or spiritual. We carry our burdens too tightly. We let them stack up. We don’t source help quickly enough. We let the pain worsen until God gives us a more painful wake up call that we need to do something about it.
If you are waiting to take steps toward your healing, take one now. Don’t wait. God doesn’t want you to suffer needlessly. Let your healing begin -- help awaits.
Katie Zalany lives in Cleveland Ohio. She is a Third Order Secular Franciscan (OFS), spiritual director, benefits/wellness leader, certified health and life coach, and volunteer. She is the creator of the ministry Women in Waiting | Made for Fruitfulness and is a published author. Her writing interests and focus areas include Gospel reflections, Franciscan spirituality, women's spirituality, prayer, and integration of faith and daily living.
