In my last book, If You Can Believe, I wrote about a healing that took place around 12 years ago. It was on my wife’s cat Figaro, and the Vet had wanted to put him down, but instead, we prayed for him, and he was healed. The day he was healed was the day he also became my friend.
A few years ago, Figaro got very sick again. By this time, he was 17 years old and as skinny as a living cat could be. We prayed for him and cared for him for several days. But he wasn’t getting better. Finally, one day we realized he had finished his race, and with great sadness, we put him down.
There are some wounds that only God can heal. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3 NKJV).
A few months after this, we decided to start looking for our next creature to have in our home. We had already decided on getting a Bernese Mountain Dog. I started the process of finding breeders and emailing them to try and get on a waiting list. Most of them were a long way from us in the northern part of our country. I figured it would take months to get one.
A week after I started to look, I got an email from a local breeder who I had emailed. They had a litter, and one family backed out of getting a puppy, and they wondered if I wanted it. I jumped at the chance and said yes! To my surprise, we picked up the 7-week-old puppy the following week. Also, to my surprise, the breeder lived about a mile from my house.
To realize your blessings, just try to count them. “Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered” (Psalm 40:5 NKJV).
I don’t believe in chance or luck because we have a sovereign God. Getting this puppy was a gift from God. We named him Samson. He is 21 months old this week, weighing 123 pounds. He is the strongest dog I have ever known. He is a sweetheart, as lovable as any creature could be.
In whatever situation you’re in, know that God is sovereign. “The Lord does whatever he wants in heaven or on earth, on the seas or in all the depths of the oceans.” (Psalm 135:6 GW).
This past weekend Samson was down with me to visit Skid Row, where I was blessed to preach at my dear friend’s church. There is something about a dog, they just love everybody, and most people love them. What a great witness dogs are for the love of God.
This week Samson got sick. He was so lethargic in the morning that I was very worried. Later, my wife Mary tried to wake him up, and she could not. Even after shaking him hard, he wouldn’t open his eyes. She called me, and I rushed home from work.
The higher faith is not from knowing more but trusting more. “Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah” (Psalm 62:8 NKJV).
When I got home, I immediately anointed Samson and prayed over him. Oh, dear Christian, God loves our creatures just like we do. We took Samson to have him checked out. I spoke to God very frankly about just how much Samson means to me. Samson is my best friend next to God and my full-time therapist as well.
The thing you fear the most, you need to trust Him with the most. “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?” (Psalm 56:3-4 NLT).
Our Vet ended up finding a few things wrong with Samson, so we have him on some medications. But the part that gives me peace is the prayer that I had with God, in which I trusted God with Samson’s life. I stopped worrying the instant that I did that. Friend, you can always trust God.
The more you trust the Lord, the less you will worry. “Blessed is the person who trusts Yahweh. Yahweh will be his confidence” (Jeremiah 17:7 NOG).
It’s not as important that you understand God as much as that you trust Him. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5 NASB).
Samson is still healing, and I am praising God. I don’t have to worry about anything that I place in His hands.
Trust God with the problem He has not yet solved. “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name” (Psalm 33:20-21 NKJV).
I don’t know what you are faced with right now, but if you would give it to God and trust Him entirely, then He will give you perfect peace. Let God know how you feel, then trust Him with how He will answer. God never gets it wrong, period.
In whatever you are facing, trust that God will help you through it. “The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You” (Psalm 9:9-10 NKJV).
Blessings to you,
Paul Balius
Thank you for this post, Paul. I am wading through some moderately deep weeds with my dog, Jackson. He is a gift to me and countless other people in my region. I often am invited to speak or train, and the invitation includes Jackson. He has been sick for three weeks, and is not making good progress (but not getting worse). I have been impressed with the notion that I need to place my trust in my God for Jackson’s health. And to place Jackson fully in His care. Your post has helped in gaining clarity on that. Thanks very much!
I have been praying for Jackson. My dog means the world to me and i can tell you feel the same way about yours. My Samson is not getting better yet either, but I am trusting God with him and I know I have put Samson in good hands. May God bless you and Jackson with His great favor.