Last year, I had to spend a Friday in a same day surgery center. Believe me when I say I did NOT want to be there. But it was necessary.

Four years ago, when I worked at the Christian bookstore I was putting something away on my knees, when I felt a stabbing pain. When I stood up there was blood running down my leg. I got myself all cleaned up and didn't think too much of it.

Several months later, I realized there was something inside my knee. Whatever had gone into my leg while I was at work hadn't come out. I went to the doctor, where he tried to remove whatever it was. When he couldn't get it, he put in a stitch, told me it'd work its way out and sent me home.

Except, it never worked its way out.

For four years I've some foreign object in my knee.

As the years have gone past, it has started to bother me more and more. If I'd hit it just right, I was in mind numbing pain and couldn't walk for several days. The cold would bother it, and again I'd be in pain and couldn't walk on it.

After going to a friend's wedding during a previous winter in Minnesota, where I constantly had to wear heat wraps on my knee because the cold hurt it too much, I realized it was time to have it removed.

When I went in on that Friday morning, I was anxious and antsy.

When it was all said and done, and I was coming out of anesthesia, they told me it had been a piece of glass. This piece of glass wasn't incredibly large, but it had been causing me grief for four years!

I started to think about my spiritual life. How the sins in my life can seem so "small" yet cause so much grief.

Yet, God never desires to leave us in that grief. He wants to come alongside us. He wants to diagnose the problem. When we're ready, He wants to go in and remove the sin for us.

The reality is, we all have a sin problem. We're all in need of a sin specialist. A savior. A person who specializes in the removal of sins. Thankfully, oh so thankfully, we know the best sin removal specialist there is. His name is Jesus.

When you meet with Him, His words will always be kind and caring. But He'll always tell you the truth. He won't hide how bad the sin problem is, but He doesn't leave you without hope.

Since my minor knee surgery, I've my fair share of conversations about sin with the sin removal specialist. I'll be honest, they aren't easy conversations. Asking Him to show me what sins I have isn't an easy process.

But, let me tell you a secret, there is freedom in this place.

Yes, surgery was not an easy thing.

Yes, I'm still hobbling around.

But, I have freedom.

Freedom knowing my knee will not bother me anymore due to a pesky piece of glass. I don't have to worry if the weather is too cold, or be extra cautious of that knee.

This freedom is minuscule compared to the freedom Jesus offers.

I encourage you, friend, make an appointment with the sin removal specialist today. It may not be an easy meeting. You may be uncomfortable. You may see parts of yourself you didn't want to see. But, allow Jesus to do His work. Because in His work there is freedom.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and leading me in the way everlasting!" -Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV)

What “little” sin is causing pain in your life?

When will you set up a time to meet with the “sin specialist”?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mariah Roberson is passionate about leading people to know and love Jesus for themselves. She is a college student, who lives outside Wichita, KS. When not doing homework or working, Mariah enjoys reading any book she can get her hands on, and writing and leading Bible studies. She believes that God shows up in the every day, laughter is some of the best medicine and that Disneyland is the happiest place on earth.