Hope & Quill Co.

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” – Psalm 119:11

I was sitting in a dentist’s chair having all four of my wisdom teeth pulled—wide awake. It was the most pain I think I have ever experienced to date. The numbing did not work completely, despite the dentist’s attempts to continue poking me with his numbing needle.

The anxiety just knowing that I was about to have teeth pulled made me nauseous. I texted my mom and asked her to pray. Knowing my dreadful fear of needles on top of having a procedure that most people at a minimum get laughing gas for, she told me she’d be praying, but she also gave me some advice that helped me get through that painful and terrifying experience.

She told me to quote scripture.

I thought, okay I’ll give that a shot.

Sure enough, when the dental assistance brought me back and laid that chair back, my mind went blank to pray. It took too much effort to think of words to pray at that time. So I began quoting a verse of scripture I had learned as a little girl.

That verse was Proverbs 3:5 – “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

It was the first verse that came to my mind. I began whispering this verse to myself as they jabbed me with the numbing needle. Soon that whisper grew into a loud gurgling hum as I hummed it in rhythm.

The dentist probably thought I was crazy, but I really didn’t care. While the pain was certainly present, His presence was overwhelming as He comforted my anxious heart and mind through His Word.

So what’s the point of my story?

The Psalmist said, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Hiding His Word in our hearts is the same as scripture memorization.

I always thought of this verse as an instruction to memorize scripture so that when I felt the urge to commit some egregious sin, I would hear “Thou shalt not” in the background of my mind.

But worrying and fear can be just as sinful.

It doesn’t mean that we won’t worry or ever be afraid. God understands that we are human and are going to experience these emotions. But He has also provided us with an out when we begin to feel worries rising. Allowing His Word to sink into our hearts provides such comfort in our most fearful times and draws our focus back to Him.

So next time you feel overwhelmed, afraid, or anxious, remember to draw strength from God’s Word. Memorize His Word and quote it when you find yourself in situations where you’re soul needs comforting.