Fireworks and a Fountain of Drool

Trust. When I look through the definitions in the dictionary, what stands out most is,        “confidence placed in a person or placing reliance on.”

Did you know that Trust is mentioned in the bible almost 150 times? I know, I know, it depends on the version of the bible as to the exact amount of times, but the point is, it mentions trust a lot!

Specifically, We are encouraged to trust in God.

“Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and do not  depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all that you do, and He will show you which path to take.”

Proverbs 3:5 (NLT)

It sounds easy enough on paper, but I think for most of us, the struggle is real in letting go and letting God run the show.  If I had to guess, I would even consider that the enemy’s use of distraction in our own insecurities derails us more often than we would care to believe. It can be so easy to get lost in our current circumstance if our focus is not on the promises of God’s peace and that He has a plan to bless us (Jeremiah 29:11)¹.

This is where the drool comes in.

Our dog Poppie is a happy dog. She is smiley and loving and confident and just brightens the room when she makes her entrance.  She is a rescue dog and I am happy to say that she has really settled in well with our family.

However, her confidence quickly faded on the eve of 4th of July as neighbors and others around us set off fireworks that were rather loud and startling. Her demeanor shifted from happy to scared and she began to fret and she became very needy and drooly. Wow, I mean someone please turn off the waterworks, I had no idea I would get such a Poppie shower.

It was only when I held her close and spoke reassuring word into her ear that she would start to relax and then wander off  until the next round of loud bangs would go off and then we would start the dance of drool and reassurances all over again. It’s moments like this when I wish she realized that I would keep her safe and that all of the crazy noise would be over soon- that is was only a short season of 4th of July madness.

I don’t know about you, but I know I have those moments of fret too. It’s when we are in the middle of fret and drool that  if we don’t have our focus, especially our trust, on the Lord  – we might just get stuck in the cycle of unnecessary too.  Unnecessary panic, unnecessary worry, unnecessary negative thought patterns. If we would just let God hold us close, trust Him and remember His words of assurance in our times of doubt and worry, we wouldn’t miss out on the peace that He wants to share with us so abundantly .

He tells us ” Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you upright with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 NLT)

He also tells us ” Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow brings it’s own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” ( Matthew 6:24 NLT)

I know for most of us,  trusting and not worrying  can be one of the biggest challenges we face as believers, and yet it is such a critical element of our love relationship with God. It is a way we can show our precious Father how we love HIM because let’s remember, HE wants only the best for us. So I challenge us, let’s take that trust leap forward everyday and see how much more it blesses us- because when we experience His blessings, we can be a blessing to others.

¹”For I know the plans I have for you,  says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”