Jesus Be My Xanax
Simply Radiant Magazine
“I was able to identify the root of my anxiety as fear—fear that I wasn’t enough”
By Kathy Wolgast
I woke up one morning with high anxiety... this has happened to me before as sometimes the stresses of life are brewing in my brain as I sleep. On this particular day I woke up restless, so that means I'm running on a horrible night’s sleep and now I'm at work and the anxiety is only getting worse. I was able to identify the root of my anxiety as fear—fear that I wasn't enough, my value and my worth felt compromised and I was mentally downward spiraling. I was on the verge of tears and locking myself in a bathroom just to breathe. I thought to myself- “self, you know what would be good right now? Xanax.” Except I don't have any, and I've actually only heard about how well it works. Then again, I don't want to be reliant on drugs... so (in a moment of total honesty and desperation) I said, "Jesus be my Xanax", and I really meant it. I needed to be rescued from my mind.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.”
It may have sounded silly but it was my heart’s prayer. Jesus be my Xanax. And he was. The peace of God overwhelmed me...my heartbeat started to slow down, the tension in my body completely subsided and the only thing I could say was “thank you Jesus.” I know it doesn't happen this way for me all of the time and it won't happen all the time for you, but the moral of the story is that it does happen. I am a living witness. Don't be afraid to pray your heart’s desperation. God knows, He cares and He waits for us to come to Him in prayer for our needs. He delights in meeting them. Even if it is a prayer for some spiritual Xanax.
Follow Simply Radiant online via Instagram and Facebook.