In Walking With A Brother – Part 2, we addressed the topic of fear. It is such a dominating emotion, I felt the need to address it in this post also.
We talked about the “what if’s” – future events that, for the most part, are out of our control. One of the problems of “what if’s” is that we play them over and over again in our minds.

All through junior high, high school and college I was in a band. I had always been involved with music. After I graduated from college I moved to a town where jazz bands were rare…like non-existent. So to satisfy my music creativity, I started creating music on a computer. I used a program called Fruity Loops. I would record a drum beat that lasted 8 measures and would play it over and over again; I would “loop” the beat. Then I would add other instruments on top of the drums and “loop” them also. Before long I had a little segment of a song.

The same is true with fear and what-if’s. Fear starts with a “what if” of uncertainty that is looped again and again in our minds. With each loop a layer of emotion is added. After while there is a whole symphony of emotions that dominate every aspect of our lives. I know of another person who is so fearful that he is hesitant to ask his oncologist hardly any questions; he is fearful of what the doctor may say. As a result, he’s missing out on options that can ease his pain and discomfort through the cancer process.

The practical: If you are too fearful to ask questions of your doctor, write them down and have your “second ear” ask for you. If you feel nauseous, ask your doctor if he/she can prescribe something to address it; this is not unusual. If you feel “dog tired” after chemo, this is normal. Many folks I know have gotten injections to boost their red blood cell count. This gets you physically ready to take another round of chemo and makes you feel better in the meantime. Your physical state affects your emotional state. Doctors may be able to help you during the time between treatments. It never hurts to ask.

The spiritual: In Joshua 1:1 – 9, God tells Joshua that Moses has died and now he’s in charge. Joshua had plenty of reason to be fearful. Millions of people where now looking to him for leadership – the children of a stubborn-hearted people who spent 40 years wandering in the desert because of disbelief in God. But God gave Joshua two keys to overcoming fear…meditating on His word day and night, and God’s presence. Knowing that God is with you every doctor visit, every biopsy, every scan, every surgery, proved priceless for me and I know will be for you.

Check out the passage in Joshua and start a new “loop” that leads to courage through this process.