With Us and Before Us

January 18, 2017

Day 18:  Better Living Through God's Chemistry:
"Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them.  For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you.  He will neither fail you nor abandon you." —Deuteronomy 31:6

I can relate to today's lesson.  In it Anderson introduces a woman named Eloise who suffered with intense anxiety so much so that she was afraid to leave her house. "I'm swimming in anxiety, and when it gets to be too much and I feel as if I'm going to drown, I start to panic."  Her husband left her and she lost her job and couldn't get another one because of the intense anxiety she felt. Dr. Anderson explained to her that "When we look at how normal thought patterns operate, the past, present, and future typically have equal focus.  When one is out of proportion with the others, we see the consequences.  If you're worried about the past, then depression usually follows..." (which is the part I can relate to most. Although I have had my share of anxiety, it has not been to the same debilitating extent as Eloise's). "If you're worried about the future," Anderson continues, "then anxiety follows." His goal was to help Eloise restore balance to her "thought life." He recommended that when she started to worry she should realize that "God is in control," and that we can cast all of our cares on Him.  He also added that she should start therapy in addition to medication to help restore balance to her thought life.  "God created our bodies with a certain chemistry, and we can use medicine to reestablish a chemical balance."   Whether we use medication or therapy or a mix of the two, Anderson reminds us that we can be assured that "God goes with and before us."

I greatly appreciate the fact that Anderson, as a Christian doctor, looks at the whole picture and doesn't discount the power of medicine in addition to prayer and trust in God.  He encourages us to pray:  "God, thank you that time is in your hands. When I become overwhelmed with worry about the future, help me to reflect on your past faithfulness—how you have always seen me through times of difficulty and have drawn me closer to you."

Anderson's prayer for today is well-timed because just this morning, as I read through Facebook posts, I began to feel the sting of anxiety about the future of this country.  There is so much to be concerned about in regards to human rights, health care, education, national security (both physically and financially), nature conservation, ... the list goes on.  The president-elect is not prepared to run this country.  All he really seems to know how to do is run his mouth.  I have extreme reservations about trusting him as president, but bottom line, God is in control.  He goes with us and before us.
I must not fear.