Recover Well

Today I am joining Five Minute Friday to share some thoughts on the word RECOVER.

The definition of recover is to return to a normal state of health, mind or strength or to find or regain possession of something. 

Recover is a term that can be used in a variety of situations. We can recover from illness, physical exertion, from a traumatic event, from substance abuse. Recover can be a word of hope as the focus shifts from where we currently are to a future place of returning back to normal. 

But to recover indicates there is a process involved. Being an avid fitness participant, I love the benefits of working my body to push its physical limits, then feeling the rush of adrenaline that comes with recovery. Beyond the feeling of accomplishment in physical recovery, there are great benefits in the recovery process. After the pain of a strenuous workout, an active recovery - which means continuing in a less strenuous movement such as walking is often considered more beneficial than inactivity, resting completely, or sitting. It can keep blood flowing and help muscles recover and rebuild from intense physical activity.

Let me share a small bite of the science of muscle recovery.... "Muscle fibers rebuild when you exert stress on your muscles, it damages the muscle fibers, causing them to break apart. During recovery, these fibers heal stronger than they were before, which in turn, make your muscles stronger." Physically, when you go through an intense physical workout, as you recover, you forget the pain of the moment and your body actually comes back stronger. 

In the realm of actual life, we will face challenges that stretch us. Pain, loss, grief, stress bring us away from our normal rhythms. We long to recover - or get quickly back to normal. But, the road to recovery is usually not instant, but is a process that like that physical muscle fiber recovery, may stretch us and cause us to feel like we are breaking apart. But in the midst of extreme situations, it is important to remember, this will not last forever, you will not always feel like you do in the midst of the hard time. There will be better times ahead. 

For the Christian, the beautiful illustration of the potter and clay remind us that God always is near and He always has His hand on our lives.  As we endure the process - soften our hearts and allow Him to mold us, He can take the situation and make us stronger and create something beautiful through it. Through Christ, our recovery process can be a work that brings us not simply back to normal, but allows us to come back stronger.