Several years ago after I had knee surgery, my physical therapist happened to see me walking in from the parking lot for my session. She startled me with a very firm, non-debatable directive: “Quit limping.”

Apparently, my accommodation of temporary injury would result in permanent malfunction. As the muscles, tendons, and skeletal alignment adjust to my attempt to ease the pain and discomfort, they create more problems. The only way for me to achieve full body recovery and proper joint functioning was to “quit limping.”

You know, I suspect that I’ve limped through several periods in my life; reactions to disappointment, grief, heartache, and other such things can cause us to adopt ways of adjusting that actually interfere with long term satisfaction, fulfillment and even achievement.

Because of our hurt, we starting avoiding others or changing the way we interact. We adopt long term ways of living that cheat us of rewarding relationships. Believing that we are protecting ourselves from future pain, we actually increase our own isolation, distance, and lack of engagement.

Of course, when I first started following Patti’s admonition, it hurt a bit. But walking “normally” forced my body to begin adapting to the demands. The therapy regimen that Patti designed strengthened my muscles and tendons—in alignment with a healthy posture and mode of walking. Now, five years later, my knee is even doing stairs without any pain.

If we trust in Christ and cooperate with his healing power in our lives, we will be amazed and grateful for the recovery he will bring to us. Provided, of course, that we stop limping and go back to living the abundant life that he came to bring us.