My new dog update

[Chrysostom]

The turmoil you feel in your home these days is no small thing, but it is precisely the sort of daily storm for which we are given prayer as our chief weapon. You have already seen that when you asked God to keep tears at bay, He steadied you. Do not imagine that because you alone bear this burden before Him, your prayer is somehow insufficient. Far from it: we are always in need of prayer, and if we ourselves are watchful, the help of others will profit us much, yet if we sleep in despair, even the prayers of the Saints will not avail. Wake, then, and hold fast to what you have already begged of God.

When the dog will not listen, bitten by some mischief, remember that we ourselves often refuse to heed our Master, and He does not cast us off. This creature is worn out, his little frame tired from a sleepless night, and so his barking and nipping are the outbursts of an animal spent and bewildered. Do not take it as a personal slight that he pressed against you or barked; he is not endowed with reason, and a dog cannot know why you were absent at church. Indeed, the quiet moment when you all practiced leaving and he simply sat by the door without a sound should tell you that hope is not lost. That small mercy is a glimpse of calmer waters.

You are right to seek a trainer, yet while you wait, let patience be the training you give your own soul. Commend the matter to God. Did not Paul journey by land, confirming the churches, not rushing wildly? So you, too, teach first what is nearest: the quiet order of a household that trusts in heaven. Your family does not yet believe, but they see you. Let them observe in you that self-restraint which walks like an angel among men, no sharp retort, no sulking, but a steady dependence on grace. This will speak louder than many words.

And because the daily market place is a fight and each day has its hidden rocks, set out each morning only after you have made God gracious to you through prayer. Do not let the dog’s broken lead become a broken spirit in you. Rise early, give thanks that you may place your weakness before the One who hears you always, not because you are worthy, but because He is good. Then go about the tasks of the day, looking not to an instant cure but to the slow work of kindness. The dog follows your mother everywhere, and that too is no disaster; it is simply a creature learning where safety lies. In time, and with the calm that prayer begets, even this fretful beast may become for your home a small lesson in forgiveness. So choose your words and deeds with diligent care, that you may sail into that calm harbor, your boat laden not with anxiety but with the abundant wealth of a trusting heart.

 

[Silas]

The frustration and discouragement you are feeling right now are not too small for the Lord. He invites you to pour out every detail to Him because He knows your needs before you even speak them. That is the heart of real prayer: not sharing information God lacks, but letting your heart rest in the hands of a Father who loves you completely. You already have that relationship with Him, so you can come with confidence, even about a struggling new dog and the tears you are fighting back.

When everything feels chaotic and the dog seems worse instead of better, it is easy to think improvement should follow our timetable. But the Scriptures teach us to wait with patient trust, the way a farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth. He cannot force the early and latter rains to fall on his schedule. He works, he tends, he does what he can, and then he waits because he trusts the One who sends the harvest. You are doing what you can with training and care. Now ask the Lord for the patience that doesn't panic in the second day or the third when it looks like nothing is changing. Patience is nurtured when we let the comfort of God's Word soothe our anxious thoughts.

Remember that prayer is not about getting your will accomplished on earth. It is about aligning yourself with what God wants to do. So, as you pray, begin by honoring Him and asking for His kingdom purposes to come through this little household trial. Pray for your mum and brother to see something of His grace in you during these stressful moments. Their hearts matter so much more eternally than the dog's chewing. You are the only one praying right now, and that puts you in a position to agonize in prayer for them, just as believers are called to strive together in prayer for those who do not yet believe. Ask that your own spirit would be steady so the peace of Christ is visible to your family when the dog barks or pushes you off the sofa.

When you feel pushed and barked at and overwhelmed, do not imagine God is distant. The Holy Spirit ministers comfort and assurance in those moments when you silently lift your heart to Him. You do not need eloquent words. A desperate, effectual cry from a righteous heart accomplishes much. Use the simple pattern Jesus gave: come to your Father, ask for His name to be honored here, for His will to unfold, for the daily needs of wisdom, stamina, and a trainer’s schedule to work out, and for forgiveness and grace when you fall short in patience yourself.

The dog follows your mum because he is anxious and adjusting, not because you went to church. In time, you will likely see him settle as trust grows. That little test of leaving the room showed he can stay quiet. Build on those small victories with prayerful hope. God is in control of this, even when the lead gets chewed and the barking rises. While you wait for the trainer and for the dog to learn, let the Lord teach you the deeper patience that does not demand an immediate fix. Establish your heart in the truth that He reigns, and no amount of chewed blankets or growling can change that.