Among several health issues I have developed this past year, one involves the tendency to grind my teeth at night. I attribute this to stress, which has only increased as the world continues to be driven deeper into darkness. My dental hygienist actually admitted to me that she believes everyone grinds their teeth to some extent. This simple statement led me to look up this reference to a quote from Jesus:
“but the children of the kingdom will be driven out into the outer darkness, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” ~Matthew 8:12
Jesus said this after being astonished by the faith of a Roman centurion and because of this centurion’s faith, Jesus healed his servant from a distance, without even going to the centurion’s house. Today, we are in the grasp of darkness as people everywhere are losing their faith. Nine out of ten young adults who have been raised Catholic will fall away from their faith by the time they graduate from college. No wonder we are all grinding our teeth!
I must confess, even I have fallen into this darkness without realizing I had done so. I let the radiant glow of being a daughter of God fade. I was dealt so many health problems that the trauma of each one allowed fear to enter my soul every time. These traumas caused me to turn away from God and seek to regain control of my life in order to “fix it” myself. At some point, I gave in and believed the lie that Jesus cannot heal me, and in addition, I believed I was going to die.
Once I took my gaze away from the Lord, I immediately fell into darkness. Living in this world means living in a place controlled by the Prince of Lies. We have to fight even harder against this to be a source of light in the darkness, putting on the armor of God in order to find our place at the banquet in Heaven.
I had been stripped of everything to the extent that when I looked in a mirror, I was disgraced by what I had become, but no more! I am a daughter of God and in that truth, I am healed through Jesus Christ.
“And Jesus said to the centurion, “You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.” And at that very hour [his] servant was healed.” (Matthew 8:13)
I refuse to fall back into the lies. My faith has healed me and set me free to be a light in the darkness.
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Originally published at Kitty in the City.
Photo: Pexels / PD-US
2 thoughts on “Where There Will be Wailing and Grinding of Teeth”
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Hi there. I can so very much relate to your story. I too, became a practicing Catholic; much to my family’s chagrin.
Them my husband’s cancer. A surgery gone wrong for me, lossing my career, losing my place, losing my husband, who thought I was his bad luck.
Losing my home and community for over 15 years. Kids sent to fight wars that weren’t theirs, coming home broken, losing their faith. Whole family lost their faith, and I did for a minute too.lost my kids, then grandkids, who were very close w me. Losing daughter who decided I was too good- painted a picture (she is very artistic) of an angel- me, w a halo falling, strangling…left me a note too. Has a strange aversion to me now and grandkids dont understand why I dont come. I leave gifts on the door. Kids report I have never left anything. Angry w me now. My heart has been broken over and over. Loss after loss. Health crisis after health crisis. Other crisises too, like my car breaking down it below zero weather; how will I het to work? Just hot back to work after a terrible accident left me in terrible pain and unable to walk for a long time. 4 year recovery (and still PT and terrible pain, but I can walk). Lost all my savings and retirement.
What a strange and dark world we live in. But God does provide through every storm.
Thank you, for your article today.