Dental Work and Sin Decay

I felt myself tensing up, my back was tight and arched, my buttocks were pulled in, and my breathing was shallow. Embarrassed within myself, I realized that involuntarily I was straining against my situation, perhaps with some inward part of me believing that my tension would make a difference.

I was sitting rather comfortably in a dentist chair attended by two lovely dental students who were declared by their instructor to be Top Notch. I was not in any pain, and the work on my mouth was progressing without any difficulties.

With the realization that I was engaging in some sort of self-effort in a situation over which I could do absolutely nothing, I had an inward chuckle since my mouth was full of instruments, multiple fingers, and a rubber pad over my tongue. I willed myself to relax, and had to remind myself a few times that my straining would have no positive effect on the procedure.

My molar with an ancient filling, and some current decay, was the object of the students’ attention. The amalgam was being replaced with additional work to remove the infected area and fill that as well.

At this point I had no control over the work that needed to be done in my mouth. Not only could I not see the full tooth exterior, but in myself, I was blind to the slow work of deterioration on the inside. Supposing I could see the damage, I certainly didn’t have the skill, the tools, or the expertise required to restore the surfaces. There was nothing I could do to fix or change the infection which had likely resulted from my own improper care of my teeth. The work needed to be done by an expert, and I was totally helpless to make any contribution to the endeavor, especially not by tensing up. Lately, I had even been more meticulous in oral hygiene and had prayed that diminishing symptoms might mean that God had done a miracle and strengthened my teeth so the long list of repairs would not be needed. That was not the case, and the harm and its consequences were already in place.

In the same way, I am not aware of the sin which is within me, which, if left unchecked, can continue to grow. I can do nothing about it, except come before the master surgeon and present what I have to him. I need to agree to let him do the work, and I need to cooperate with it. All of my self-effort, attempts at “doing better” late in the game, and denial to accept the truth will do nothing to eradicate the decay of sin. In fact, if I tense up against the work of the master Craftsman, I will wear myself out to no avail. My own endeavors probably won’t even address the area which needs work, just as a tightened and arched back have nothing to do with my teeth.

Going to a dentist can be a fearful thing. I can’t say I despise it, but it is not one of my favorite pastimes. As I mentioned, these students were excellent in each part of the procedure, including administering the anesthetic, which I barely felt. After that, I was in no pain, except for my arched back. Once I relaxed and let my body mold into the cushioned chair, I somewhat enjoyed the process. The young ladies were very kind and gentle, and I knew I could trust them to be thorough with the best of possible protocols for my needs.

I made several choices and decisions en route to the dental procedure that morning.

*I had seen the clear evidence of my need when I looked up at the x-rays, with my teeth nearly as large as my palm!
*I had to agree that this was a problem which could get worse if not handled immediately, and that I was helpless to fix it.
*I gave permission for the students to work on my teeth and at the appointed time, sat in the chair, and gave my mouth over to their trained hands.
*I continued to sit there, enduring the bitter taste of the local numbing agent and the prick of the injection of anesthetic.
*I submitted to the mouthful of instruments and accessories which were necessary for the tooth to be restored.
*I also chose to go with the student to make an appointment with an endodontist because I need a root canal on another tooth. (How do I docilely choose to undergo a root canal?)

At this point in life, I can lament and regret the way I did not take the best care of my teeth. I did the minimum requirement of brushing and flossing, with neglecting the latter when I was too tired, or it was too late. I realized that I was not taught to floss until I was married, and then not told how to get into all the tooth crevices. However, all that woe will not change the diagnosis: Additional decay at the side of the tooth and underneath the filling could get worse, leading to more extensive work to save the tooth.

Isn’t this just the same as our Lord, who desires to bring us to wholeness and restoration. Sometimes His work of removing the infection of sin from our lives demands some intense or painful procedures in order to get all of the corrosion out and replace it with something stronger–His very Life. Since we are not designed to deal with sin, we must let the expert handle it with our cooperation alone. The Holy Spirit is the X-ray revealing the full damage sin has caused, and He is gently at work to teach us what is true. Like the dental students, He will usually address only one area at a time, which means we will have multiple visits to restore the effects of accumulated decay. He does not ask us to help Him with the procedures nor to advise him on best practices. Our job is only to acknowledge that He knows the reality of our hearts far better than we can, and that He has the skill par excellence to handle it in the best way. We can open our hearts and hands and submit to His work of renewal and bringing us to perfection, which is only possible through Jesus.

Are there ways you find yourself tensing up and trying to “do something” to help God when He is working on some area of your life?

Do you have something you know is a problem God wants to address, and yet, it seems easier to deny it so you don’t have to endure the pain/fear/discomfort of handing it over to the Lord?

Please share your experiences so we can learn and grow together.

(C) 2020 Holly Craw