Never Alone

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Last night Chadwick Boseman died. For my readers who may not know who that is, he was, no IS, a super hero in my community. An African American actor who portrayed many key figures in our history, and iconically portrayed T’Challa aka The Black Panther on the big screen. Many of us are hurting because of this loss, in more ways than one. For me, the biggest hurt is from the how. Chadwick died from stage 4 cancer, and unbeknownst to the general public, he was diagnosed 4 years ago at stage 3. Anyone who has been impacted by cancer, either through diagnosis or being close to someone who received the diagnosis, has probably experienced the Anxiety that comes with that. Dealing with that diagnosis means dealing with the nerves that come with not knowing how the story is going to end. Living each day with the knowledge that your body has turned on you and may never turn back is a hard existence.

I have to imagine what it was like for Chadwick everyday of these past 4 years, as he went through treatment. As he looked at his family and friends knowing they were with him, but maybe not “with him” on this journey. As he made the decision to keep doing what he loved, in spite of the fear, and the pain, and the fatigue, and the Anxiety of a prolonged death sentence. And none of us knew. Where did he find the strength? Where did he find the courage? If that had been you, could you have done it? How?

Support systems are key when it comes to dealing with any Anxious feelings. No matter what is causing your Anxiety, knowing you are never alone is essential to making it through each day. It’s the only thing that carries me through my Anxious moments. Much like Chadwick’s circle kept him over the course of his life, my circle supports me by keeping my secrets, holding me when I need to be held, listening when I need to be heard, and being the true embodiment of love. I have had some really low moments on my journey in life with my mental health and physical health, but I thank God for bringing me the right people to see me through them.

I’m also thankful for His word. The bible says “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10) These words remind me that when everything seems to be crashing in, and even my family and friends can’t understand, God has me, and He’s there to ease the Anxiety I feel around being alone. I’m never alone as long as He is with me. And it’s Him who gives me the strength to wake up each day and live in my purpose.

So as we mourn the loss of this great human, and as we have those Anxious moments that make us feel as though all hope is lost, I hope you can remember that you are never alone. The same God that gave Chadwick the strength to press forward and give us the entertainment we crave and cherish, the same God that helps me endure all of my woes, is the same God who will keep you and see you through it all.