I struggled with a condition called trigger finger on my right hand, for several months. I saw the doctor in January 2025. He prescribed medication and told me to incorporate more ginger and turmeric into my diet. The medication ran out but there was no relief. In addition to turmeric and ginger, I tried other inflammation fighting foods but to no avail.

I had experienced the condition about three years ago, however at that time, it was on my left hand. Another doctor has conducted a minor procedure on my hand, along with administering a steroid injection, which brought relief. The drawback was that I was made immobile for three days and could not use my left hand as it was bandaged and in a sling.

This time around, I was shying away from a similar procedure and so I kept trying other things to make the pain and stiffness go away. By February there was an accompanying pain in the wrist which caused me great difficulty in using my hand to perform fine motor tasks. In March, when I returned with my test results, the doctor informed me that since the measures I tried had not worked, I would need a steroid injection.

By this I had made up my mind that I would have to endure another three days of pain after surgery and enquired how soon the procedure could be carried out. He replied ‘right now’. I was thrown off as I was thinking that I would have had a few more days to prepare myself. He advised that all I needed was an injection. There would be no need for an incision so it could be done right away and proceeded to make the request from the nurse. Remembering that I had an exam coming up on Tuesday, I suggested that it be put off, but he assured me that by Tuesday I would be fine.

Within a few minutes, I was injected and then it was on to the pharmacy for the pain medication. The anesthesia had worn off by then and the pain kicked in. I steeled my mind, had something to eat and began taking my medication. The pain I felt was nowhere near what I had felt three years ago. Within a day, the pain, stiffness and discomfort were gone and I was able to use my hand normally. What a relief. God had made a way for me and it was not as bad as I had expected it to be!

My mind went back to a prayer meeting earlier in the year where I asked someone to pray for my healing and stated that I did not want to do surgery. He reminded me that I cannot dictate how God chooses to effect the healing. Surgery or an injection could be the way He had made so I should accept whatever He does.

Takeaway

My biggest take-away from this experience? Don’t put God into a box – I was expecting God to work in the same way He worked in the past. The first doctor had done a minor surgery by making an incision and using and injection. This doctor did things a bit differently but got the same results. I have been reminded that God works in mysterious ways and so I should always have an open mind.

Have you learnt anything else from my story? Let me know in the comments.

Have a blessed Tuesday. Be blessed as you listen to this song from Travis Greene.