I shared two weeks ago about how I received a burn on my foot. You can read all about it here: philressler.com/wrestling-with-helplessness. I appreciate all the prayers and support. I heard from so many of you who told me that you were praying for me. I can feel those prayers and they give me the courage to continue to walk boldly in faith wherever God leads me.
Prayer Requests
I wanted to give you an update for some of the ways you can continue to pray specifically for this injury.
- Pray for healing. It has been two and a half weeks since the injury occurred. The wound is healing. Unfortunately, the healing is slow. And that is the greatest concern. We know it will heal, the question is the quality of the healing. I have a doctor appointment tomorrow to determine further course of treatment. We may consider a skin graft to ensure that the new tissue growth will be healthy tissue. This could include a short stay in the hospital. Whatever the course of treatment, pray for God to continue to heal and restore fully.
- Pray for my family. This is hard on my wife and my kids. Barbara has picked up the slack, doing things that I have been unable to do. It also creates stress and anxiety with the extra burdens she is made to carry. Pray for my kids. We are unable to do some of the fun things we might have done during summer while they are off from school. These are things like the amusement park, the beach, hiking and camping, and nerf gun battles in the backyard. The kids are only this age once, and I hate missing out on these things. I am praying that I will heal enough by the end of summer to do some of those fun things.
- Pray for my church. I am blessed to be pastor of a wonderful church with many gifted and capable people. So many people have stepped forward to fill the void. In many ways, facing these limitations has been a good thing. It has caused me to focus on only the things that I can do and allow others to use their gifts in serving the kingdom.
Lessons I’m Learning
In my devotion this morning I read Hebrews 12:10, where it says:
He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
It is in times of difficulty that we can ask what is God teaching us. What is there to be learned through this? How is this struggle helping me to grow in holiness and godliness? Below are a few of the lessons I feel God is teaching me.
- God is teaching me patience. I am not a patient person and have a hard time sitting still. If you are in front of me when a light turns green and don’t move, it will not take long for you to get a horn.
- God is teaching me compassion. Our struggles and suffering helps us relate to, understand, and empathize with the suffering of others. God comforts us so that we can comfort others with the comfort we ourselves have received (see 2 Corinthians 1:4).
- God is teaching me humility. I realize more and more that I cannot do everything. I am trusting more in others to help me and especially for God to help me.
- God is teaching me to listen and to seek him. There are emotional and physical challenges with which I am struggling. I am calling out on him more than ever, seeking his voice and wisdom.
- God is teaching me to rest in his presence. My treatment for the burn is simply to rest. There is physical rest, but even more important is to rest in his presence. I always feel as if I need to be doing something. I am inclined to find my value in what I do. But our value is not in found in doing, but in being. It is being in God’s presence as his children.
Again, thank you for your prayers and support. I am glad that you have subscribed to my mailing list or are a reader of my blog. If there is some way that I can pray for you, feel free to submit a prayer request.
Donna Weiss says
wow
Deb says
Dear Pastor Ressler, my adult daughter badly burned her foot in December. She has type 1 diabetes as well, so the concerns were heightened. God healed her – completely! I want you to know what treatment worked this miracle for my daughter: hyperbaric oxygen therapy, also known as HBOT. Please, pray about this option. It truly brings amazing results. I’ll be praying for you and your family. God continue to bless you through this.
Phil Ressler says
Thanks for the suggesting Deb. I have some great medical professionals in my life that are taking good care of me. My wife is a nurse and has helped people who went through that treatment. The good news is that I have no complications with my burn. It is a significant burn that is both wide and deep. But at this time there are no concerns. It is just a matter of time. We praise the Lord for that.
Jenny says
Hello. I found this column. Left foot was burned three weeks ago. Blistering and some charring of skin. I was on my way to shadow another nurse for another position. Foot was burned with hot food falling on it. I still went because that’s just how badly I need another position closer to home. My round trip to work daily is 94 miles. Another time I tried to get closer to home I had to have carpal tunnel surgery and I had limitations needing hand therapy. I dont understand why I cannot be successful with having a job closer to home without hinderance.
For some reason I was too exhausted to add another procedure to my agenda for burn treatment. As a nurse and familar with wounds I stepped out on faith and took care of a second degree wound and it is not infected. I had a serious talk with God. I continued by God’s Grace to work as a nurse seeing about others when I knew I should be resting. I work for a non profit company and my backup person is in his native country on vacation. I have to have back up if I need to be off. I also need to take leave to visit my 85 year old brother far away. He is talking about things that I am concerned about and desire to visit him. I dont want to keep asking for leave. We work one to a shift.
I know seeking treatment so late is not good but I give all the praise and honor to God Almighty that told me to be still and quiet and know He is beside me. He is in the annointing every step. The doctor doesnt understand nor my supervisor why I did not go to get help before now. They just dont understand I got to the point I was almost asking God to take me home with Him. I was already overwhelmed with things that I have no one to help me with. Same with my carpal tunnel surgery. It was just my comfort in trusting that surpassed my understanding that God would keep my body from infection and illness and my Savior did just that. As a nurse I know the seriousness of my wound and I thank Him for guiding me to successful care during the worse part. I am worn from driving over 40,000 miles within almost two years; working deligently with no acknowledgement or time for me that God carried me. My supervisor comes in once a week mostly after a trip somewhere ir just being there one day and complains about what the two nurses under her dont get a chance to do in the course of a day. We pull for not having a supervisor in every day. The more I ask God to move me it seems to get harder and harder.
Please pray for me.
Raag moolchandani says
I pray u be all well jenny.
God is blessing u with his grace and love. Keep faith