It Wasn’t as Bad as I Feared

How often do you worry that something bad will happen and then it never does? I know that I do. A simple example is getting the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccination. Educators were invited to sign up to get the shot, and so I dutifully signed up for mine last Friday afternoon. I chose Friday because I had heard that most people get sick for a day or two after they get the shot, and so I planned ahead.

During the week leading up to my inoculation, I saw teacher after teacher needing a substitute as they suffered through the after-effects of getting the vaccine. One staff member showed me the huge welt on her arm where the needle had gone in. And this was four days after she had gotten it! Yikes! As Friday neared, I had psyched myself up so that by the time it was my turn to go, I was quite nervous.

I made my way through the line, stopping at table after table where my paperwork was checked. And then it was my turn. I had removed my jacket in advance and had worn a short-sleeved shirt – always planning ahead. Of course, I looked away, as I don’t do well with needles. I felt a little prick. Hmm. Then she put rubbing alcohol on my arm. She must be preparing my arm for the shot, I thought. But then came the bandaid. I was done. I had only felt a little prick that didn’t even feel like a shot!
Actually, that’s not the part I was that scared of. It was the chills, fever, body aches, etc. that would come. And so I went home and waited. I woke up during the night, as I had been told the reaction would start around 12 hours after the shot. Nothing. I went back to sleep. I woke up again, nothing. Eighteen hours….24 hours. Nothing. My arm didn’t even hurt as much as my right shoulder that hurts all the time. Here, I had worked myself up to expect that I’d get all the symptoms, right down to the nausea and vomiting, but nothing happened.

Isn’t this just like what we do most of the time? We worry about what MIGHT happen when we have absolutely no control over it? Why do we do this? Why can’t we just trust that even if we had gotten the severe symptoms, God would have been there to help us make it through. For me,I think it is because I like to be in control – all the time. I don’t like not knowing what will happen. I prefer to schedule my vaccine when I can have two days off to recover. I prefer to wear my soft jacket in case my arm is sore and short sleeves so they can have easy access to my shoulder.

I’m learning to trust God more and more each day, and yet I still don’t want to give up this control. I hang on to my worrying. What does the Bible tell us about worry? Here are just a few verses that God has given to help us when we worry:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

If you tend to worry, I encourage you to do a search for even more verses where God tells us not to worry, but to trust in Him. I wish you a blessed, worry-free weekend. And if you are planning to get the vaccine, don’t worry – it really wasn’t that bad!

Because of His Faithfulness,

Sharon Brobst, Director