6 LESSONS I LEARNED FROM A PERFORATED APPENDIX

GUEST POST: This post is from our DREAM Conference Director - Stacie Siers. It was written to be shared at our staff devotionals and it was too good not to pass on to you. Enjoy!

God doesn’t waste our discomfort. Sometimes He lets us walk through tough seasons so we can grow - so our faith gets stronger, our dependence on Him deepens, and our character gets refined.

And every now and then, He has to “put us on our back” so we’ll finally look up. When we’re flat on our back and completely out of control, that’s when we see what we’ve been missing…gratitude, real dependence on Him, and compassion for others who are hurting too.

• LESSON 1 - Building dependence on God: Comfort can lead to a false sense of security, while discomfort can force a person to rely on God's strength and wisdom instead of their own. 

  
  

James 1:2–4 – “Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”

• LESSON 2 - Forced surrender to God. When you are at the end of your own strength and resources, you are forced to give up control and turn entirely to God. This can reveal where you may have been relying on your own understanding rather than trusting in God completely.

  
  

  Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God.”

  
  

MY AHA from Lessons 1 & 2!

I’ve realized that for the past few years, I’ve been coasting in comfort. As an empty nester married to a workaholic, life’s been…well, pretty easy. I don’t really have anyone to take care of but me. I eat what I want, buy what I want, sleep when I want, and do pretty much whatever I want whenever I want…and honestly, I’ve enjoyed it!

But somewhere in all that ease, I stopped relying on God like I used to. Without even noticing, I started depending on me…my plans, my timing, my way. I still read my Bible (just not as often as I could). I still served others (but not as much as I could). I still prayed (but not as much as I could). I was content… maybe a little too content. Somewhere along the way, I let pride and self-reliance sneak in and settle down without even realizing it.

• LESSON 3 – Preparing to help others: By going through difficult times, you gain the experience and empathy needed to help and encourage others who are struggling. 

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 – “...the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

• LESSON 4 - Seeking godly community. During times of isolation and pain, relying on other believers can strengthen you. Praying with others, receiving encouragement, and being vulnerable with your community can provide vital support.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 – “Two are better than one... for if either of them falls, one will lift up his companion.”

MY AHA from Lessons 3 & 4!

I’ve realized I’m a doer…but mostly a doer of non-emotional tasks. I’m the first one to drop off a meal, organize the group gift, clean the house, or serve the food. Don’t get me wrong…those things are good and needed…. but for me, they’re also easy ways to help. They let me give without having to get too close or too uncomfortable.

But during my hospital stay, the people who made the biggest impact weren’t the ones who just did something…they were the ones who showed up. The ones who sat with me, checked on me, fixed my gown so I wouldn’t accidentally moon anyone (true story), helped me shuffle down the hallway, or lovingly nagged me to use that awful spirometer. Those simple, humbling moments gave me peace and hope.

I learned that when people are at their lowest, what they really need is people. Not just prayers and cards (again, not that these things are bad), but presence. And I want to start being that kind of person…someone who truly shows up for others in need.

• LESSON 5 - Rejoice and be grateful. Even in the middle of a trial, you can choose gratitude, which can open your spiritual eyes and bring healing. This practice allows you to appreciate the growth and meaning that come from your suffering.

Philippians 4:4–7 – “Rejoice in the Lord always... and the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds.”

MY AHA from Lesson 5!

I have never felt closer to God, or more at peace, than during those 21 days when I was completely down and out. So many things went wrong during that stretch of time. My appendix perforated, I went septic, we lost my father-in-law, and there were a dozen other hard things piled on top. Honestly, it could’ve been easy to spiral or throw a pity party, but I didn’t. And I know for sure that it was the Holy Spirit stepping in.

He gave me this incredible sense of gratitude right from the beginning of all the chaos. I found myself thankful I didn’t die, thankful for the doctors and nurses who cared for me, thankful even for hospital food! I was grateful for friends and family who reached out, for the chance to give myself antibiotics at home instead of going to rehab, for the extra hospital days where I actually felt safe enough to heal, for the moments I got to witness to those caring for me, and especially for my dad & daughter, who sat by my bed so faithfully. The list could go on and on… but you get the idea.

• LESSON 6 - Consequences of choices: Some difficult situations may arise as a direct result of personal choices or sins.

Galatians 6:7–8 – “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap.”

MY AHA from Lesson 6!

Earlier, I mentioned how I’d been living a life of comfort…not really leaning on God the way I should. But along with that came something even deeper: a quiet attitude of defiance. I have this situation in my life that I flat-out didn’t want God’s opinion on. I already knew what the Bible said about it… I just didn’t like the answer. So instead of praying or seeking His will, I convinced myself that my plan made more sense…that it was the “right” way to handle things.

Well, since I wouldn’t go to God, I think He lovingly put me flat on my back, literally, so I’d finally look up. So, I’d face the truth and deal with what He was asking of me. I’m still wrestling with it, but I’ve surrendered it to Him. I’m learning to seek His way, not mine. So, if you think of me, pray that I’ll keep choosing obedience over comfort… even when it’s hard.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS

If there’s one thing I’ve learned through all this, it’s that God cares way more about my character than my comfort. He loves me too much to leave me in a place of ease and self-reliance. Every uncomfortable season, every setback, surgery, or sleepless night, He’s used to shape me, stretch me, and draw me closer to Him.

As we all know, growth doesn’t usually happen when life feels easy. It happens in the hard places… the ones that push us to depend on God more than ourselves. For me, He used a perforated appendix to perforate my pride. He used weakness to show me His strength. And He used pain to remind me that His plan is always better than mine.

So, the next time I find myself in an uncomfortable season, and there will be a next time, I want to remember this: God doesn’t waste our discomfort. He uses it to grow us, to prepare us, and to help us reflect on Him more clearly to the people around us.

If we’ll trust Him with our pain, He’ll turn it into purpose. And sometimes, that purpose might just start with being flat on our back, so we finally remember to look up.