My back left tooth has been hurting for six weeks now. I passed it off as stress early on, but it got to a point where I was having trouble chewing. Eventually, I went to the dentist to get an x-ray. I wanted to make sure that I wasn’t ignoring something major, like, say, a failed root canal. (I had four root canals in college from eating far too many Swedish Fish.) The dentist said my gum is swollen back there, but he sees nothing wrong.
Body Is a Resource for Spiritual Life
Dallas Willard says:
“Our body is a primary resource for the spiritual life.”
When I couldn’t address my body with a physical cure like medication or (thank the Lord) oral surgery, I had to ask myself whether my body was telling me something through my aching tooth.
My mind was drawn to a verse from Psalm 34:
“Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
What Is My Body Telling Me?
Now every time my tooth starts to hurt, I pause and pray this reminder. That God is good. That I can take refuge in his love. That he brings sweet gifts into my life every day. And the ache begins to recede.
My body is telling me what I need to understand in my spirit—that I still need to learn to trust in God’s goodness. I still need to learn to take refuge in the sweetness of God’s love.
To read more with Amy Julia:
- What Marilee Taught Me About Prayer
- S4 E2 | Where Is God When the Pain Won’t Stop? with Liuan Huska
- Raise Your Hand if Your Back Hurts
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