How to Allow God to Comfort Us

It has been a stressful few months for me. Secular work has been all too consuming and the tough economic times have taken it's toll on me...just as it has with most of us. When I'm feeling this stressed, it is very difficult for me to find peace in prayer and allowing God to comfort me. However, it seems that my friend Cait has found the perfect image of God comforting us. Cait and her husband Joe always find a way to keep peace in their lives. Below Cait shares an experience -- an image of God in an email that I think will help me to turn to God especially when faced with life's stressors.


It's been a challenging week and a half for us here since returning from Florida. First was worst, of course, with news of Joe's sister's death. The personal stress there is obviously the most serious. We were already dealing with corroded pipes in our kitchen, so we thought that was our biggest problem to have repaired so we could once again use our kitchen sink. The sink soon became the least of our worries. Our furnace broke down on the coldest day yet. Then this week our well pump died suddenly. It's feeling like country bumkins...

Joe bought gallons of water from the grocery store for us (which riles me because our well water is better than any water I've ever had) so we have drinking and cooking water. I was in the kitchen this afternoon boiling snow in pots on the stove (to use for the pets to drink, for the toilets, etc. until the well pump is installed) when I had some unplanned prayer time thrust upon me. I had all the kitchen doors blocked to keep our new puppy, Bonita, in the kitchen with her toys. Of course Puca and Kelsi, our Shepherd, had to be there with us... The three of them were playing with squeaky toys, little puppy size tennis balls, and big beef bones. Suddenly I heard the puppy scream as Kelsi stepped on her tiny paw. No damage, no real injury...just the shock of a huge paw on a tiny paw. I reached down and picked up Bonnie, and her little body, shaking, immediately burrowed into my arms. I held her snug, while Puca, who has been making sure she is still #1, jumped to see what was up. She has been getting much more affectionate with Bonnie so I picked her up too.

Sitting there, with the two of them in my arms, I watched Puca calm down the puppy, licking and nuzzling her. Very quickly the both of them were totally relaxed and sleeping soundly in my arms, oblivious to my plans for the afternoon. So there I sat, watching them...thinking. Is this how God looks at us when we sleep, happy to see us finally relaxed and worry free? I thought how difficult it is for me so often to allow God to comfort me, to quiet my nerves when I'm frightened like Bonnie, or insecure like Puca. These little creatures just absorb affection like sponges, and allow themselves to be calmed by it, by my imperfect love. I sat there for one hour watching them breath calmly, little eyes closed, and I prayed. God let me learn from them...to trust, to rest in Your arms secure in Your perfect Love which casts out all fears regardless of what is happening around me or to me. Nothing can seperate me from Your Love. Don't let me forget. Thank You for this reminder.

This has been a very difficult week for Joe and me, and I really needed that time this afternoon. I have no doubt God gave it to me, along with the lesson in trust and love, in the manner I'd best recognized it--through these beautiful dogs.

Cáit

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