I have asked many people about their toothache experiences, and each one described it differently. One said, “It is as painful as having my head cracked open,” and another said, “it felt like my head was being torn apart.” Someone else said, “I wanted to cut it off my body and end the pain, as the toothache felt like it would last forever.”
I once experienced a severe toothache. Half of one cheek swelled up like a ball. When the pain began to intensify at midnight, my terrifying ordeal commenced. I can only describe the pain as feeling like millions of needles puncturing my head.
It became more and more unbearable. “In the morning I longed for the evening, and in the evening I longed for the morning.” (Deut. 28:67)
When it came to the third evening, the toothache pain worsened, like a storm working into a typhoon. I had no idea when it would end. It was as if time was standing still, no end was in sight. I felt I could not live another minute!
Have you ever had an experience when time seemed to stand still? Imagine traveling on a long-distance bus, driving along a bumpy road when you very much need to go to a toilet, but there is still at least 30 minutes of driving to the nearest restroom. That 30-minute trip seems to last forever.
This was my first experience of such torment!
I breathed heavily, groaned loudly, and at last, when I couldn’t help myself, I cried out.
I knelt by the bed and prayed, “O Lord, please save me.”
Nothing happened.
I bent over and covered my head, “Please save me, Lord.”
Still, no help came.
I lay down, squatted, tossed, and turned in bed and tried many different postures. Nothing helped. I asked myself, “Where is Jesus Christ? ”
I thought, “It must be that I am not praying the right words.” I then changed my prayer, “Please save me, have mercy on me, I will die. You must save me! Please help me, Lord….”
Nothing changed! The pain became even more unbearable!
I was desperate! But then, suddenly, the scene of how Solomon judged the dispute between the two women and the baby came into my mind. The poor weak baby was lying under the sword. The baby’s life depended on his real mother risking everything to save him. It was vital for the baby himself be saved, but it was not his task. He was absolutely powerless to help himself.
I was like that baby lying under the sword. My Father in heaven, my Creator, was the only One who could save me. He had even died for me on the cross, so wouldn’t He save me now?
I then lay in bed and gave up all the struggle. My prayer was changed from “Please save me, Lord.” to “O Jesus Christ, this is your job. You will surely save me, as you live in my heart.”
From “You must save me, Lord,” to “You will surely save me.”
From “I am in pain, save me” to “Oh, this is not my job, it’s yours, Lord!”
I was the baby lying under the sword.
A saw a group of bright angels coming from heaven! They were approaching in a square formation. Each of them was wearing white clothing. The clothing was slightly outspread as if they were flying. They all wore solemn expressions, yet their eyes were bright but gentle, like pigeons. They were all holding metal tools in their hands.
The angels came straight to my side where my tooth was aching. I noticed that there was also a regiment of black-clothed angels staying close by, trying to hold up the white angel’s efforts. They didn’t like the way the holy white angels were standing in order and began to struggle with them. It seemed that the only way the white angels could gain victory was by me leaving it all to them and entirely ceasing my struggle. I was totally dependent on my heavenly helpers. The black-clothed angels could not withstand the white angels. A short while later, the black angels were defeated, and the white angels started the operation. I heard the noise of metal tools working on my face.
It seemed that only a few seconds had transpired from when the white angels came from heaven to when the operation was finished, and the pain had completely gone. Then the white angels disappeared from my view as quickly as they had come.
3 Sayings to Keep Your Head Up(Opens in a new browser tab)
I lay in bed feeling very surprised. I didn’t quite understand what had just happened, but I knew I had seen heavenly angels face to face and was still alive. I then fell into a deep, sound, and painless sleep.