Antidote to Anxiety

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:6, 7, NKJV

The knee replacement surgery went well but brought me much pain.

I recovered. Seven months later, infection invaded my knee, necessitating subsequent surgery to clean it out. My medical team started me on IV antibiotics.

I felt better after a few days on the antibiotics and was discharged from the hospital. Yet three days later, a 104-degree F (40-degree C) fever wracked my body.

Another hospital stay—and continuing confirmation of the stubborn infection. “We will have to perform an additional surgery,” my doctor told me, “to remove all the replacement parts and accommodate an antibiotic spacer.” I could barely fathom those words.

Two months later, a subsequent surgery opened up my knee for a new antibiotic spacer. Six weeks after this surgery, I finished my course of IV antibiotics, and the infection was finally gone. Praise the Lord! I now face the fourth surgery for the “original” knee replacement. So here I lie. Awake. In the middle of the night. Pressing needs and worry overwhelm me.

How I need divine relief! Yet Jesus knows my situation.

He has promised to help me guard my heart and mind in Him.

Even when I cannot understand what He is doing—or is not doing.

So right now, amidst my physical and emotional pain, I choose to transfer my heart and mind from the grip of anxiety into the hands of Jesus.

Oh, Lord, I am in need of Your peace to surround and refresh me.

I need Your truth, as I recall Your promises, to soothe my heart and spirit.

Pressing needs and worries overwhelm me.

Remind me of Your ever-present love, healing, strength, and grace.

I trust my burdens into the safety of Your hands.

Thank You for overpowering my anxiety with Your peace.

Sometimes I cannot sleep when big decisions press hard on my spirit. Since I cannot see all the answers, I can only believe Jesus is still leading me. He will make the way plain, opening the right doors and closing the wrong ones. In Him, I find rest for my soul (Matthew 11:28, 29). Does Jesus have your heart and mind and complete trust today? If so, you have His antidote for anxiety—His peace.

Gail Dotski