Protected More Than I Knew

A Warning Sign I Didn't Understand

As I have reflected on different parts of my recovery journey, I have recently found myself thinking about an event that happened in 2012. At the time, I knew it was serious, but I do not think I fully understood just how serious it could have become.

After my motorcycle accident and the surgeries that followed, I began developing painful fluid pockets on my back. They would swell and become very uncomfortable. One of them was removed, but the fluid pockets continued to return.

There was one in particular that became especially painful. The pain grew so intense that I was taking Tylenol every four hours just to get some relief. Despite everything I had already endured during my recovery, this was a difficult and frustrating experience.

Then one day, the fluid pocket burst.

I knew something was wrong. I went to the emergency room, where they examined the area and took a swab for testing. A short time later, the lab results came back showing that bacteria was growing in the sample.

Prior to that, I had undergone scans, including CT scans and ultrasounds, to make sure my vertebrae had healed properly. Discussions had already begun about removing the metal hardware from my back. However, after the fluid pocket burst and the testing revealed bacteria, the situation suddenly became much more urgent.

The doctors quickly scheduled surgery and moved forward with removing the hardware.

Looking back now, I realize there was much more at stake than I understood at the time. An infection around implanted hardware is not something to take lightly. Had it continued to spread, it could have affected my bones, entered my bloodstream, or caused serious complications throughout my body.

At the time, I was focused on getting through the pain and dealing with whatever came next. Years later, I find myself reflecting on how close I may have been to an even greater medical crisis.

Sometimes we only recognize the significance of certain moments when we look back. What seemed like another setback in my recovery may have actually been a warning sign that led doctors to discover a problem before it became far worse.

As I think about that experience today, I am reminded that there are times when God protects us from dangers we do not fully see or understand. We often focus on the trials we face, but sometimes the greater story is found in what never happened because of His provision and care.

There is still much about that season of my recovery that I continue to process and reflect upon. But one thing is certain: looking back now, I realize I may have been protected more than I knew.

The Blessings We Never See

As I have reflected on this experience, I have realized that the infection itself is only part of the story. The greater lesson may be how often we are unaware of what God is protecting us from.

At the time, I knew the fluid pockets were painful. I knew the surgery was necessary. What I did not fully appreciate was how much worse the situation could have become had the infection spread further. There are countless dangers, both seen and unseen, from which the Lord protects us every day.

Psalm 121:7-8 "The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore."

Many times, we thank God for the blessings we can see while never realizing the problems He prevented altogether.

The longer I live, the more I realize that we often focus on the blessings we can clearly identify while overlooking countless others. We thank God for the prayers He answered, but we rarely think about the prayers we never knew we needed. We celebrate the doors He opened, but we seldom consider the dangers He closed off before we ever encountered them.

I think about the infection in my back and wonder how many times God has intervened in my life without me fully realizing it. At the time, I only saw the pain, the doctor visits, and the uncertainty. Looking back now, I can see that what felt like a setback may have actually been a mercy. The bursting of that fluid pocket was frightening, but it also led to the discovery of a problem that needed immediate attention.

How many times has the Lord protected me in ways I never recognized?

The truth is that none of us really know. We do not know how many accidents were avoided, how many illnesses were prevented, or how many situations were redirected by God's hand. We simply trust that He is faithful.

Psalm 91:11 reminds us, "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."

That verse does not mean we will never face hardship. My own life is evidence that trials still come. However, it does remind me that God is actively involved in the lives of His children. Even when we cannot see what He is doing, He is still working.

Perhaps that is why gratitude is so important. If we only thank God for the blessings we can identify, we may miss countless reasons to be thankful. Every ordinary day is filled with mercies we often overlook. Every breath, every step, every moment of strength, and every obstacle that never materialized is a reminder of God's care.

When I stop and think about it, I realize that some of the greatest blessings in my life may be the ones I never saw at all.

Every Improvement Matters

My recovery has also taught me to appreciate small victories. Before my accident, there were countless things I did without a second thought. I never considered what a gift it was to walk, maintain my balance, swallow, tie my shoes, or brush my teeth. Today, I celebrate milestones that many people might overlook.

Recently, I discovered that I can now puff my cheeks out and hold air in them. To most people, that probably sounds insignificant. Yet for me, it represents progress. It represents muscles strengthening, nerves responding, and abilities returning that were once lost.

It reminds me that every improvement matters.

Sometimes the things we did as children for fun were actually developing muscles, coordination, and abilities we would one day depend upon. We rarely think about those things until they become difficult.

Perhaps that is true spiritually as well. We often take God's daily provisions for granted because they seem ordinary. Yet every breath, every step, every movement, every answered prayer, and every danger avoided is evidence of His grace. Those gifts should never be taken lightly.

The older I get and the further I move along this recovery journey, the more I realize that nothing should be taken for granted. Every step forward is worth celebrating. Every ability is a gift. And every day is another reminder that God has been protecting and sustaining me in ways I may never fully understand this side of heaven.

 Be encouraged. 🧡