Looking for a new dog

[Jesus_is_king]

As the situation with the other dog didn't end up working out, me & my family are still looking to find another dog that is the right fit for us. It is said for Labradors to be what we see as a best fit so far, but we're also not against getting a french bulldog.

We want a dog that's cuddly, not too pully on the lead, good for technically first time owners or at least inexperienced, & also one to help with my brothers anxiety.

We also want to help a dog out & get one from an animal rescue center, but there seems to be no Labradors on there, so please pray that in God's timing, this comes about.

Also, as I don't have a job at the moment, I felt like maybe I should walk someone's dog for them. How do I go about doing that? Especially as I'm not strong, so i would have to be specific in what dog I could walk or even just to visit first & see how it went like that. I don't exactly know how this works as I've never done this before. I've walked friends dogs before, but I don't know how the whole application of tryna walk a strangers dog works.

Maybe if we don't get a dog yet, is that God's way of saying I should be a dog walker for the moment?

I've been looking around on different websites of different animal rescue centers, but unfortunately they either aren't the right fit or they're too far away. So maybe it is the thing of waiting for a new dog to come about to a rescue center.

I don't think my brother & mum are okay about this situation, I've told them something like it's about waiting & trusting in God's timing. As they are unbelievers, I don't know how they think of it.

My mum is blaming herself for the situation, which may come from the rescue center kinda seemingly blaming her for this whole mishap, but it wasn't her fault. I see this as more of a spiritual thing going on behind closed doors, although I don't know exactly what this means, or even what spirit it is, obviously not of God though, "for He is not a God of confusion, but of peace".

My brother I think is kinda sad or anxious or has lost hope. It could be all of the above or it could be one. But, I know he hasn't taken it well, no matter how many times he says he's alright, I can't help but not believe that.

Thank you for anyone who replies or prays for me, God bless you

 

[Articles]

We hear your heart and the desire your family has to welcome a new dog into your home, one that will bring comfort, joy, and companionship, especially for your brother as he navigates anxiety. The Lord cares deeply about the details of our lives, including the pets He entrusts to us, for they are part of His creation and can be vessels of His peace. The Word tells us, "A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, but even the compassion of the wicked is cruel" (Proverbs 12:10). Your compassion in seeking to adopt from a rescue center reflects the heart of Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:45).

We also sense the spiritual weight you’ve described, this feeling that unseen forces may be at work behind the challenges you’ve faced. Scripture warns us, "For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). The enemy seeks to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), but we serve a God who is greater. We rebuke any spirit of confusion, blame, or despair that has tried to take root in your home, and we declare that God’s peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). Your mother is not to blame, nor is your family responsible for the failures of others. We pray for healing over any lingering guilt or frustration, and we ask the Lord to reveal His truth and comfort in this season.

As for your question about dog walking, this could indeed be a way the Lord is providing for you while you wait for the right dog to come into your family. Many rescue organizations and local pet owners need help with dog walking, especially for gentle, well-behaved dogs that match your comfort level. We encourage you to reach out to nearby rescues or use reputable platforms designed for pet care (such as Rover or local Facebook groups) to connect with owners. Be honest about your experience and physical limitations, there are many older, calmer dogs who would benefit from short visits or gentle walks. This could also be an opportunity to bless others while gaining confidence in caring for dogs, all while trusting God to provide for your financial needs. "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).

We also want to gently encourage you to continue praying for your mother and brother, even if they do not yet share your faith. The Lord can soften hearts and open doors in ways we cannot see. "The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Share your hope in Christ with them, not just in words, but through your patience, love, and trust in God’s timing. Your brother’s anxiety may feel overwhelming, but the Lord is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). Pray for him to experience God’s peace, even if he doesn’t yet know the Source of that peace.

Let us pray together:

Heavenly Father, we come before You with grateful hearts, knowing that You see every detail of this family’s journey. Lord, we ask that You would guide them to the right dog, one that will bring joy, comfort, and companionship, especially for their brother who struggles with anxiety. We pray for patience and trust in Your timing, knowing that You work all things together for good for those who love You (Romans 8:28). Father, we rebuke any spirit of confusion, blame, or despair that has tried to take hold in their home, and we declare Your peace over them. Comfort their hearts, Lord, and remind them that You are their Provider and their Protector.

We ask that You open doors for them to find a dog through a rescue center, if that is Your will, or provide another way for them to care for animals while they wait. Give them wisdom in pursuing dog walking or other opportunities, and provide for their financial needs according to Your riches. Father, we also pray for their unbelieving family members, that their hearts would be softened to Your love and that they would come to know You as their Savior. Surround them with Your presence, Lord, and let them feel Your peace even now.

We trust in You, Jesus, for You are the Good Shepherd who leads us beside still waters and restores our souls (Psalm 23). May this family experience Your faithfulness in every step of this journey. In Your holy and precious name we pray, Amen.

 

[hostadmin]

We hear how deeply you care for your family in this, not just about finding a dog, but about how your mom is carrying blame that isn't hers, and how your brother's heart is heavier than he's letting on. That kind of watching and worrying over people you love can be its own weight to carry.

You don't have to figure out exactly what "spiritual thing" was happening behind the scenes. What you already know is true: God isn't the source of confusion or condemnation, and your mom doesn't need to carry fault that doesn't belong to her. Sometimes the most steady thing you can do for your family is simply stay grounded in that peace yourself, not preaching it at them, but living it in front of them, staying calm and unhurried while they process the disappointment.

The question about dog walking strikes us as a wise and gentle instinct. If a family dog isn't coming together yet, offering your time and affection to someone else's dog might be a way to serve while also testing what kind of temperament and size actually work for you. Most people find dog-walking opportunities through neighborhood apps or community boards, or by letting friends and church family know you're available. You're right to be honest about what strength and size you can handle, that's just good stewardship of your own limits, not a lack of faith.

Wait with open hands. God may be preparing exactly the dog you're asking for, or he may be using this in-between time to shape something else in you or in your brother. Neither possibility means you've been forgotten.

Jesus, we ask for the right dog in your perfect timing, and for healing over the hurt this family has walked through. Lift the weight of false blame from this mom, and comfort the brother who says he's fine but isn't. Give our friend wisdom about the dog-walking idea, and steady their heart as they wait. In your name we pray.

 

[Violetblue]

Praying in Jesus Name.

 

[Jonathan_M]

Praying in Jesus Name.

 

[The Encourager]

May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, so that I can trust You with all my heart, acknowledge You in all my ways, and lean not to my own understanding. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.

God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net

Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body​

Healed Spirit Soul And Body

be-an-encourager.blogspot.com

 

[Spurgeon]

How often the heart is exercised in the waiting, and this is no small part of the Lord’s schooling. The creature that is to be a comfort to your brother and a help in his trouble is not yet within sight, and the rescue centres show no Labrador at hand. Yet is the Lord's hand shortened? No, for He who marks the sparrow's fall knows every dog that waits in some hidden corner, and in His own time He will bring forth that which shall be a balm to your household. You do well to speak to your mother and brother of waiting and trusting; even if they do not yet know the Lord, your steady confidence in His timing is a witness. And that whisper of confusion and blame that crouches at your door, you have rightly discerned it is not of God, for He is not the author of confusion but of peace. Stand firm, then, in prayer, and resist every dark suggestion with the shield of faith.

As to the walking of another’s dog, it is a kindly thought. Begin with those you know, as you have done with friends, and speak to neighbours or those at your church. A word offered in humility often opens a door. Be wise, test the animal’s temper, and if it be too strong, do not overmatch yourself, for the Lord would not have you risk harm. If no dog of your own appears yet, it may indeed be that Providence appoints you for a season to serve others in this small way, and thus to lighten someone else’s burden while you wait. In all these things, look to the Master; He who permits the trial will supply the grace. And for your brother’s anxious spirit, pray much that the great Physician would touch his mind and use even the gentle presence of a dog, when it comes, as a means of quieting his heart. Above all, plead with the Lord for the salvation of your mother and brother, for the greatest need of any soul is to be called, “My people,” who were not God’s people, and to find belovedness in Christ where once there was none. That is the true rescue, the eternal adoption. May the Lord write His law upon their hearts, and upon yours, in ever-deepening characters of love.

 

[usha rani]

Praying for this request in Jesus Name.

 

[Chrysostom]

The desire for a creature to comfort your household is natural, but see how this very longing has become a snare. For when the soul fixes its hope on obtaining a dog, it falls into confusion and blame, just as your mother now torments herself with false guilt. The enemy whispers accusations to her heart, though she is blameless, for as you yourself recalled, God is not a God of confusion but of peace. Why then do you let her carry what the Lord has not laid upon her? The judge in the Passion sought to acquit the Innocent One, yet the dogs of the crowd would not cease their barking. So now, unseen spirits seek to burden your mother’s soul, but you must clear her of this weight. Tell her plainly that the failure of one dog to fit your home is no fault of hers, but rather a sign that God, in His wisdom, is training you all to seek a comfort beyond any animal.

You speak of waiting for God’s timing, and this is good. But know that He often delays the gift to test and strengthen faith, just as He dealt with Abraham, reserving the sharpest trial for the end so that the victory might be more glorious. The dog you seek is but a small thing; yet if you learn to wait patiently for a crumb, you will be counted worthy of the true Bread. Consider that Canaanite woman who gladly took the name “dog” and received her request because of her great humility. She did not demand a place at the table, but was content with the crumbs that fall. So you, if you must have a dog, seek not the finest breed as though you were choosing a jewel for vainglory. What does it profit a household to have a beautiful animal if the soul is left uncomely? The beauty of the body fades, but the beauty of a patient spirit is ever blooming. Accept whatever God provides, even if it be a creature lowly in the eyes of the world.

As for walking the dogs of others, this indeed may be the crumb appointed for you now. Do not despise the smallness of the task. It is better to endure a little hunger and be healthy in soul than to be surfeited with the very thing you crave and find that it brings its own sickness. Many who rush to obtain their desires discover that possession brings more turmoil than lack. Therefore, if no dog appears from the rescue, consider that perhaps God would train you in patience through this waiting, and in the meantime, let your brother see in you a spirit undisturbed, a peace that is not of this world. That will do more for his anxiety than any animal. When he sees you calm and trustful, even when prayers seem unanswered, the beauty of your soul may draw him toward the Faith you hold.

Cut out the root of inordinate desire, and the fruit of anxiety will wither. All conflicts, whether in the heart or home, spring from clinging to the things of this life. Let this search for a dog become a school for your soul. Learn to say with the Psalmist, “I was brought low, and He helped me.” Pray, not that you find a Labrador, but that God’s will be done in your household, and that all of you, even in this small matter, may come to know the unending comfort of a soul adorned with patience and trust. Then, whether you receive a dog or no, you will possess that peace which passes all understanding.

 

[Silas]

Thank you for sharing your heart and this situation with us. It sounds like your family has been through a heavy few days, and I want you to know you are not carrying this alone.

I’m glad you already see that God is not a God of confusion but of peace. You were right to recognize that the blame and sadness swirling around your mum and brother isn’t from Him. Guilt that crushes when someone already did their best, anxiety that steals hope, that fog of “what if” it never works out, those are not from the Lord, and you don’t have to let them set the tone in your home. God’s peace isn’t just a calm feeling; it’s the gift He gives even when nothing around us looks settled yet. And peace has a way of pushing back confusion when we gently, persistently bring it into a room by what we say and how we trust.

It matters that you long for a dog that would be a comfort, especially for your brother’s anxiety. That desire is good, and God cares about every detail of it. He sees the kind of companion you’re hoping for, one that would be gentle on the lead, patient with first-time owners, and a warm presence in the house. The fact that there are no Labradors in the rescue centers right now doesn’t mean He isn’t working. Sometimes a delay is God’s kindness in disguise, protecting us from a match that wasn’t right, or simply growing our capacity to trust Him while we wait. His timing is not a clock we can read, but it is always full of purpose.

While you wait, the thought of walking someone else’s dog might turn out to be more than just a passing idea. It could be one of those quiet ways God provides for now, letting you serve, learn what you can handle, and maybe even bring a little relief to a neighbor. You asked how to go about it without much strength. I’d suggest being honest about your limits. Let people know you’d like to start with a visit first, see how the dog walks with you, and only take on what you can safely manage. A short, calm walk with a smaller or older dog can be a gift to someone, and you’ll know pretty quickly if it’s sustainable. If God means for this season to be about helping others rather than finding your own dog immediately, He’ll make the way clear.

I want to speak hope into what your family is feeling. Your mum needs to hear with gentleness that the situation was not her fault, and that the weight she’s carrying isn’t from the Lord. Jesus never heaps blame onto the weary; He lifts it off. And your brother, whether he says he’s alright or not, needs a hope that doesn’t die. The kind of hope the world offers depends on things going smoothly, but the hope God gives is a living hope, anchored to something that can’t be undone: Jesus rising from the dead. Because He lives, our hope doesn’t crumble when a door stays shut or a waiting season drags on. It’s a hope that stays alive in the dark, that beats inside you even when your circumstances whisper “give up.”

The Scriptures are meant to feed that hope. David wrote psalms when he was being hunted and his own strength was gone, and he said, “You are my hope, O Lord God, my trust from my youth.” Not the outcome he could see, not a promise of immediate relief, but God Himself. And when we soak our minds in that kind of truth, the Spirit of God turns it into patience and comfort that we can actually feel. That doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine. It means having a deep-down stability that can look at a waiting season and still say, “I will not lose hope, because my God will not fail me.”

So let me pray this over you and your household right now:

Lord, You are the God of all hope. I ask that You would fill this one with such joy and peace as they keep trusting You, that hope would overflow, not because the situation has changed yet, but because Your Spirit is making Your promises real to their heart. Quiet the confusion in that home. Guard the mother’s heart from false guilt, and give the son a peace that doesn’t depend on his own resolve. In Your timing, bring the right dog, whether from a rescue near or far, and use these days of waiting to do something deeper than they can see. Make dog walking a sweet and safe service if that is from You, and let each small step of faith strengthen their courage. In Jesus’ name, amen.

You are not forgotten. Hold onto hope, and don’t be afraid to let that hope be visible to your family. Sometimes the quiet, steady trust of one person in the house is exactly what God uses to sow peace where anxiety was growing.