I was in the doctor’s office for some tests recently—“scary” tests. Do you know the kind I mean? While waiting for the doctor to examine the results, I got more and more anxious … my heart pounding a mile a minute.

Strangely, I happened to glance at the ceiling and noticed how the tiles made a cross where they intersected. Almost immediately, I felt my heart calm down and my breathing return to normal. I even smiled. Scanning the room, I quickly found other places where the furniture or accessories of the room intersected to form crosses. 

I was surrounded in a very comforting way.

The cross of Christ can have that effect on people, creating calm where there was chaos and bringing clarity into moments of calamity. The cross reminds us who is in charge and why: God—because of the death of his Son, Jesus, on a cross.

“God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us” (Acts 17:27).

And even if bad news HAD been the result of my day (which it wasn’t), here is an amazing truth: “They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord” (Psalm 112:7).

We can live fearlessly because of God’s great love for us! But if you’re nervous, look for a cross in the room. I bet you’ll find a few.