Better Living Through God’s Chemistry

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

“It’s so bad, I’m afraid to leave the house,” Eloise said. “Now my husband has left me because I won’t go out. I lost my job, and I can’t find another one because I miss too much work. 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.”

Eloise wrung her hands and bit her bottom lip. “Everything in front of me seems like a much bigger deal than it used to be. I feel as if I can’t be fully present because I’m obsessing about the future. I don’t know what to do.”

“Panic and anxiety are usually related to making the future too big,” I said. “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. If you’re worried about the future, then anxiety follows. Our goal is to try to restore balance to your thought life.”

I reminded Eloise that God is sovereign over the past, present, and future. He lives beyond the constraints of time, and he protects us even when we don’t realize we need his protection.

“When you start to worry, Eloise, I want you to realize that God is in control. He’s got this. You can turn all your cares over to him. I recommend that you start with therapy to help restore balance in your thought life. But I can also prescribe medication if you need more help.”

“I understand how God could use a Christian counselor to help me with this,” she said. “But what about medication?”

“God created our bodies with a certain chemistry, and we can use medicine to reestablish a chemical balance. But either way, with therapy or medication, you can be assured that God goes with and before you.”

TODAY’S RX

If you’re suffering from anxiety or depression, don’t be a prisoner to it. Get help. Your quality of life may improve through Christian therapy or God-given chemistry.

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.