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Prepare for PeaceLynne Kennedy, member of the CTCA Marketing Department
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4: 6-7 The upbeat clinician said it would only take 20 minutes, and it wouldn't hurt, although it might be a little noisy. I can do this. No big deal. Patients go through far scarier things everyday. Lying prone with my arms over my head, the narrow table moved my upper body slowly into the round opening of the MRI. This is much narrower than I thought it would be. Next they put really big, padded earmuffs on to block out 'some' of the noise. Hmm. That's when I started to think that maybe having an MRI was more involved than I first thought. With every breath, I felt my back touch the top of the cold, metal MRI machine. My elbows touched the sides. I felt like everything was closing in on me. Then the loud clanging noise started, piercing through my protective earmuffs. I wasn't prepared for this. Sudden intense fear and apprehension flooded my mind. I experienced shortness of breath and palpitations I'm having a panic attack. I can't lie still for 20 minutes in this confining, deafening metal tube! Oh God, help me, I cried out in my mind. Over and over I kept praying, God help me, calm my fears. God did calm me, and, as I remembered His promises, my fears subsided. I made it through the MRI, and my results were what I hoped for. But I learned a valuable lesson. I must always be prepared and armed with God's word when I go into a new situation, even facing each new day. When God's promises fill my heart and mind, fear and anxiety can't slip in. We must not leave room for fear to grip our heart and mind. God will give us peace instead of anxiety ... calmness instead of turmoil ... and healing instead of pain. |
