A Comic About Anxiety, Prayer, and the Peace That Makes No Sense
As narrated by Oishi, at 2 a.m.
It was an ordinary night. Sus brushed my teeth, tucked me in, kissed my paw, and whispered, “Goodnight, my sweet badoodle.” All was calm… until it wasn’t.
At exactly 2:04 a.m., Susan transformed from a semi-functional hooman into a full-blown melodramatic elephant—wailing in the dark like a tragic opera soloist. Naturally, I woke up. She was sitting on the floor, back against the bed, sobbing.
“Oishi,” she sniffled, “I’m feeling fidgety and depressy. I’m having a menty B.”
Translation: disquietude and misery. In hooman terms—she was anxious and depressed.
She began listing her worries like a grocery list no one asked for:
- Her overdue credit card bills
- A report due in 8 hours she hasn’t started
- Fear of being judged by people she doesn’t even like
- And the weather. Yes, the weather.
Some things were preventable. Like binge-watching Law & Order: SVU as if she’s part of the cast. (Spoiler: she’s not Olivia Benson.) Some were out of her control—like storms and the speed of donut deliveries.
And while I appreciate the lion squeaky toy she got me last week, our bed now looks like a plushie war zone. She’s no heiress. She needs to chill.
But what truly broke my stoic dog heart was watching her spiral over things already buried in the past—mistakes from years ago, things no one remembers but her.
So I did what any emotionally intelligent Shih Tzu would do. I retrieved the Bible using my teeth (you’re welcome), flipped to Philippians 4:6–7, and dropped it in front of her.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
She read it. Her tears slowed. Then she blinked at me and said, “Oishi… what does transcends mean?”
Paw to forehead.
I explained, “It means to go beyond. To surpass. To rise above the noise, even when your brain is hosting a full-blown karaoke of panic.”
Still confused, she asked, “But how do I thank God when I’m anxious? Am I supposed to say, ‘Dear Lord, I’m depressed and fidgety—thanks!’?”
That’s when I knew we needed divine backup.
Jesus arrived (smiling). Mighty Paw came too (annoyed). Together, they explained:
Praying with thanksgiving isn’t about pretending you’re not anxious. It’s about choosing gratitude in spite of it. It’s saying:
“Lord, I’m overwhelmed… but I know You’ve carried me before, and You’ll carry me again.”
Gratitude shifts your focus from the storm to the Savior.
The peace God gives doesn’t always make sense. It’s not based on how calm life is. It surpasses understanding—guarding your mind like a fortress, holding your heart when it’s falling apart.
And right there, Susan got it.
She brought out cocoa. We snuggled in. And yes, we finished the Law & Order finale (she still hasn’t started her report, but sure—let’s prioritize Olivia Benson roleplay).
She slept like a baby. I didn’t. Her snoring kept me up.
The end. (Now let me sleep all day. Don’t @ me.)
– Oishi
🐾 “Signed with sass and scripture.”
📝 Writer’s Note
Anxiety and midnight panic attacks are no joke.
They’re real, disorienting, and often arrive without warning—especially at 2 a.m.
This comic tells that story with humor and heart, not to downplay the struggle, but to bring light into it. Because while the pain is real, so is the peace that comes when you surrender your worries to God.
Your problems may not magically disappear,
but your perspective will shift—
because the Prince of Peace is right beside you. Always.
🐾
Thank you for being here.
If you’ve ever had your own 2 a.m. spiral, we hope this story brings a little laughter, a little peace— and a reminder that you’re not alone.
-Ember
Ember - Fire and Soul 