‘Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ‘ Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
‘Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge.’ Proverbs 18:15 (NLT)
‘For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy.’ Proverbs 2:10 (NLT)
‘He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.”’ Exodus 15:26 (NLT)
‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.’ Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
We thrive in the known and build our worlds around what we know. We foster relationships and routines in our sphere of knowledge because it provides us a level of comfort and confidence. It provides us security. But what about when life suddenly thrusts us into an unknown situation, like surgery?
It is very common for you, the patient, to be anxious as you step towards a surgical intervention. This anxiety is often a direct byproduct of your world rapidly moving from the known into the unknown. Why do I have this pain? What will my life be like after surgery? How long will it take me to recover? Will I miss work? The questions compound and build upon one another until we have worked ourselves into an anxious frenzy. Rest assured that there is peace available to you.
One avenue to that peace is to make your unknown, known. Proverbs states, “Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights.” So, take a deep breath and prepare before going to meet with your surgeon. Write out the questions you need answered and get to know your surgeon if he is a stranger. Ask for, and actually read, resources from your surgeons’ clinic about procedure and expectations. Ask a friend or coworker who has had the same procedure about their experience. Equip yourself with knowledge to remove the unknown.
But in the end, no matter your efforts to learn and understand everything ahead of time, you will still have to step into some unknown. You can do this by trusting the One who restores all, Jehovah Rapha, the ultimate Healer. For as author Bob Goff says, “The One who has called us is more powerful than all of the uncertainty we’re facing.” Take heart and do not be anxious, He has planned your steps, and everything is known to Him.
from Restoring Life: Anxiety