Yesterday I had to go to the dentist. That’s not something I enjoy. In fact, it’s something I dread. I have TMJ problems, so holding my mouth open for a cleaning is a challenge and quite painful. I usually have a massive headache afterwards. Well, yesterday I already had that headache before I even went, so I was especially anxious. I imagined horrible pain for the rest of the day. As I sat in the waiting room, I could feel my heartbeat getting faster.
In the book I was reading, the main character, Mack, was having a conversation with Jesus. Jesus asked him, “Where do you spend most of your time in your mind, in your imagination, in the present, in the past, or in the future?” I recognized immediately that I mostly live in the future, looking forward to and planning for what’s next. I believe this is why I struggle with anxiety a majority of the time. Later in the conversation, Jesus said, “Mack, do you realize that your imagination of the future, which is almost always dictated by fear of some kind, rarely, if ever, pictures me there with you?” That got me thinking about the “future” that I was currently anxious about. I was thinking all about the inevitable pain while sitting in the dentist chair and the remainder of the evening, not at all about Jesus being with me. I thought to myself, “I don’t have to be all anxious about what’s going to happen over the next several hours because Jesus is going to be with me. I can just sit here and read this book and enjoy Jesus being with me NOW as I read.” With that change of mindset, the anxiety began to dissipate. WOW! God is GREAT!!
I know exactly what you mean, two and half years ago, when I realized after 25 years of know Christ, that I can also believe every word He said. I decided to believe that He would take my cares and that He wanted me not to be anxious. Realizing this and thanking Him for this truth, He overwhelmed me with peace and His peace has stayed with me two and a half years. I am loved by God,
Cindy