Perseverance of the Saints

Friends,

I have been struggling with bladder stones for almost eighteen years since my snowboarding accident. The problems intensified starting in 2017, having more stones and sediments in the bladder and experiencing more frequent and random symptoms of hyperreflexia such as pounding headache, body ache, and high blood pressure up to 250. Bladder infection with fever and pain, two full surgeries, and one partial procedure to remove the bladder stones. What about daily chronic back and neck pain, and nerve pain on my thigh in the form of burning sensation? Anxiety, suffering, and fear became my uninvited guests and friends. 

In March 2021, I had bladder stone removal surgery, and my urologist found many black and white stones but neglected to prescribe antibiotics which left me with another episode of bladder infection and fever. The procedure by itself is not complicated, according to many urologists, but the issue is that because of my condition, the procedure must be done under full anesthesia, and that is what makes the surgery complicated and challenging from time to time. My urologist prescribed a special treatment which was developed to protect the bladder from forming any bladder stones. In fact, I was angry that he did not do it sooner, although he knew about the treatment for some time. 

Whenever I go through the symptoms of hyperreflexia and bladder stone removal surgery, I often prayed to God in this way, “How long oh Lord? How long do I need to have surgery every year just to remove the bladder stones?” Well, I hoped and prayed that the treatment would do its job. 

Five weeks ago, I met my urologist for an annual checkup and had a cystoscopy, which “is a procedure to look inside the bladder using a thin camera called a cystoscope” and a very painful procedure for me. I wondered how many stones he would find this time and when I would have another surgery this year. After the examination, he said that the bladder was clean without any stones or abnormality. I was so surprised that I had to ask him twice to confirm his statement. 

Praise the Lord! Although he has allowed many incidents of bladder stones and infection over the years, he has always been in control over my life. He strengthened me to trust in his words and promises: although I was down many times, I was never out. Although I was down catching my breaths and even thinking about staying down, I was never out of the fight, because of the invisible, invincible, and incorruptible hands of our triune God. As he has been holding me all these years, he is always holding his children in all circumstances. 

Also, I am grateful for my earthly father who has been my full-time caregiver since my snowboarding accident in 2004. For the last two years, he has been administering the special treatment to my bladder every day. There were times when I wanted to skip a day, especially when my father seemed tired; however, he never skipped a day and marched on to take care of me. I am so blessed to have a wonderful earthly father who believes in the eternal Father. 

Someday, my body may not endure the impact of the spinal-cord injury and may break down. God may not heal my infection and not prevent the high blood pressure from causing a stroke. The day may come this year, or three or twenty years later. My faith will be maintained by and anchored in him gloriously, not because I am a super apostle or a man of faith, but because God will complete my faith in him. 

Friends, whenever storm strikes us and shakes our faith, we will persevere in God, for God who initiated the wonderful plans through our lives will indeed finish them. 

Praise the Lord oh my soul worship his holy name!