Bye-bye, Tooth!

It was in church on Palm Sunday when I felt something like a little marble in my mouth. It was a crown on a tooth that had come loose.

I made an appointment with my dentist. She tried to save the tooth to replace the crown, but then said there was too much decay. "That tooth needs to be pulled out."

So I went to a dental specialist for the extraction. What an ordeal! I felt distress and pain. There was blood. Thankfully now the tooth is gone and healing is underway.

free unsplash photo by Quang Tri Nguyen

There was a spiritual lesson for me in this experience. I began to think about the little ongoing sins and bad habits that have become part of my life. If I am to become the person God calls me to be, those sins and their decaying effects and those bad habits have got to go. I cannot do it on my own. I need a "Specialist;" I need Jesus.

I admit and face the fact that I do have problems in my life. Problems I cannot fix on my own. I no longer want to try to hide them or deny them, but bring them to Jesus as openly as I am able. There can be distress and pain in doing this. And there is blood, but this time it is His blood that has been shed to take away all my sins.

Only when I do this can inner healing take place. Burdens are lifted. New peace and joy and strength flow into me. "Thank you, Jesus, for taking away our sins. Thank you, Jesus, for the healing."

As for me, I call to God,

    and the Lord saves me.

17 

Evening, morning and noon

    I cry out in distress,

    and he hears my voice...

Cast your cares on the Lord

    and he will sustain you;...

But as for me, I trust in you.

Psalm 55: 16-17; 22-23