Let the Ancient Words Impart
“Our anxiety reveals where our hearts truly lie.” —Timothy Keller
Stained glass of Chartres Cathedral in Paris, France
Perhaps the most common issue encountered by healthcare providers today is that of anxiety. It is the gateway to physical and mental disease, and has become an expected ingredient of modern life.
As naturopaths who treat the root cause, how should we approach such an ubiquitous affliction? We must first ask ourselves if our core modalities — changing the diet, administering adjustments, or using hydrotherapy — will do the job. Or perhaps a homeopathic remedy, or talking with a therapist is the cure? I can only speak for myself, but I’ve tried it all to no avail.
To probe further, I scan the self-help literature of the day and find that the advice from the books and blogs is to recognize that most of our fears will never occur, and therefore, doing visualization exercises to turn off worry by focusing on something positive is the best course of action. Sounds logical enough.
I then compare this modern approach to what the ancient scriptures say. Interestingly, they say the exact opposite. When King David was writing in 1,000 BC, he exclaimed, “though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident” (Ps 27:3).
What is David doing here? Instead of trying to tune his worry out, he is intentionally visualizing the worst possible scenario he can imagine — being surrounded by an enemy army about to die — and claiming a complete lack of anxiety.
This approach may seem alarming and unwise to modern minds that encourage “positive thinking.” But is it? What if David found a solution to anxiety that could withstand even the worst possible scenario? Wouldn’t we all want that?
The remainder of the poem expresses that our fears are directly proportional to the vulnerability of the things in which we place our hope and trust. If we derive our worth and joy from career success, the opinion of others, money, family, physical beauty, or status, and then lose these things (as we all will one day), anxiety will ensue.
But what if we realize what David realized in his moment of despair? What if we place our joy, worth, and trust in something that is not subject to the vicissitudes of time and life, like money, health, or youth? Instead, David submitted to an unchanging, everlasting, and always faithful fulcrum — God. We can place our trust in the same God today, and have the same reprieve from anxiety that David did so many centuries ago.
That is the only way we can quit our ceaseless striving. It is the only way we can finally treat the deepest root of our anxiety and find rest — true rest, for our bodies, minds, and souls.
At Columbus Naturopathic Medicine, we provide faith-based care to help you experience God’s design for meaning, purpose, and connection. If you are interested in working with Dr. Leah Gusching, you can learn more and schedule an appointment.