236 – Trash Compactor: The Walls Are Closing In

#faithbites #faithjourney walls

One of the most famous scenes in Star Wars, is Luke, Han, and Chewey trying to rescue Leia from the Death Star. During the escape, they wind up in the trash compactor compartment. There is all kinds of junk in there, a monster, and a locked door. Outside of the compactor is C3PO who is manning the controls looking keeping lookout for stormtroopersrs while in communication with Luke.

You may ask, why I am starting this #faithbite with that scene. There is an easy answer for that. Many people ask me what it is like suffering from anxiety. If you don’t have it, it’s hard to image, so I hope this helps.

You are in a room where the walls are closing in on you. There looks to be a way out, but the door is locked. You bang on it and it won’t open. Looking around, you find things to stop the walls from closing in, like the poles in the movie. (In real life it could be meditation techniques, medicine, or just deep breathing.) It works for a second or two, then the walls keep closing in. You try to get to the top of the pile. You scream for others to unlock the door but the door is still locked.

On the outside, others want you to just open the door and walk out. They tell you to pick up a piece of the junk and jam it into the walls. They don’t understand what is going on. Then when you manage to get the door open, you let out a sigh of relief, but those outside think it could be a cry for help or don’t understand it all.

That is what it feels like. Some days the door opens easy. Other days, most times, it doesn’t. It takes a lot of work to open that door and stop the walls from crashing in on you.

It’s not fun. Even if you get the hug Princess Leia when it’s over.

Scripture on the Anxiety

• Then he placed his right hand on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.’” – Revelation 1:17
• For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.- 2 Timothy 1:7

Reflection

I have never been in a trash compactor and actually felt the walls closing in on me. Likewise, I never felt a creature grab my leg and pull me under. But in suffering from anxiety, those feelings are very real. For me, a mix of prayer and medications help. These two verses called to me tonight. Know that God was there in the beginning (the first) and will be there in the end (the last), I know I shouldn’t be afraid. He saw what was and what is to come and that brings solace. We also see that he hasn’t made us in fear but in love and of a sound mind.

God wants us to know we are safe and he is with us always.

Does that make it easy at 2:00 A.M when your breathing is rapid, you are tossing, your brain is racing, and you can’t calm down? Easy? No. Easier? Yes. Praying for his support does help.

Like Luke calling on the microphone to open the door. He will open the door. That door may be opened in ways you never thought possible. From doctors to meditation techniques to diet to friends. He will open the door. It just may feel like a long time before that happens.

Charge

Depression and anxiety are real. If you suffer, get help. See a doctor. Talk to a loved one. Seek the help you need. Pray on it. Listen to his answers. He will help you get the help you need. Just listen to it. And in all honesty, if you need someone to talk to, I am here. I will listen and help.

Lord, help me to conquer my anxiety. Help me to understand that the walls aren’t closing in on me. Allow me to listen to your word and help others going through the same thing. Amen