A Warm Hug

July 2, 2025

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NIV. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

My boy Roland is terrified of thunderstorms and fireworks. We had tried holding him during them, but it only gave him a little comfort. Usually, he would hide under the couch and shake.

Paul and I finally decided to try a Thundershirt for him. Friends have told me that the snug fit of it made the dog feel like he was being swaddled. We bought him one, and sure enough, it works. It is really amazing. Roland is usually a little wild man, so for him to calmly lie down and fall asleep is unfathomable.

Our God is the same way. He doesn’t just give a little cuddle, He can give us complete peace and comfort, body and mind.

I have had ECT treatments, and they are not something to be taken lightly. My fear with them wasn’t the treatment, but falling under anesthesia. For anyone who hasn’t experienced it, it takes a second or two. I feel like I am falling backward and have no control over my body while my mind falls into nothingness. Just a second or two, but the feeling terrifies me.

I would try to meditate or be mindful while I waited my turn, but the fear was too much for me to handle. The wait before each treatment became hell. It wasn’t until I tossed my “mindfulness” exercises aside and remembered to pray that I was able to regain some calm and peace. Later, I would understand that prayer is the greatest form of meditation. This painful experience helped me to relearn the strength of a solid spiritual practice. It seems that it should have been automatic, and I’m ashamed it wasn’t, but sometimes psychological practices and Biblical truth do intersect. Prayer is an infinitely formidable connection between us, small humans, and an omnipotent God.

A year or so later, I had to have a couple of MRIs. I think it is a control thing with me, but I am terrified of these, too! I remembered how God had held me in His arms and given me peace in the face of my towering fears. I closed my eyes, set my mind on Jesus, and had a time of deep communion.

Will I fear in the future? Sure will. Will I pray as I go through them? I hope so. We imperfect sheep sometimes forget that the shepherd is always with us. Your rod and staff, they comfort me. Thank you, God, for not forgetting me in my fears.