Anxiety swept over me like a wave splashing across my entire body. I knew in my soul that something was terribly wrong and I didn’t know what to do. Carl could not be found and I truly believed that he might be gone forever.
Early each morning before the heat sets in, I have gone outside to water my garden. Carl loves to follow me around and find something to smell or dig up. Typically, he stays close by and seems to know if he wonders off, he may lose his privilege of being free to roam.
This morning was different. Before watering the yard, I placed my bag inside the car for an overnight trip with some friends. Carl knew something was up and started acting strangely. Instead of staying close by, he ran next door, sniffed around and then came back over to me.
This happened a couple of times until the little dog disappeared altogether. To make matters worse, this was the busiest time of day for the commuters that speed by on the roads that frame our property.
As I realized that Carl was not to be found, my anxiety level increased and I began to pace up and down the road, calling his name. My greatest fear was that I would hear the screeching of brakes and find my little dog injured or killed in the road in front of my yard.
Initially I thought he must have made his way inside my neighbor’s house but when I looked inside the window, all looked quiet. Afraid to wake them up, I made my way down the road to another house that Carl had entered a while back.
But there was no sign of Carl anywhere. At this time, my emotions were all over the place. I was fighting off the feelings that something horrible was happening. My thoughts went from thinking the worst to believing that Carl would just appear.
How often, when we are faced with tragic circumstances, do we allow our thoughts to dictate our feelings? Anxiety can come upon us in an instant and stay around way too long. David was no stranger to the feelings of anxiety. He had every reason to feel anxious as he was being pursued by Saul in his younger years and his own son Absalom in his older years.
How did this man overcome the anxiety that came with the threat of death?
Psalm 91:1-4 clearly demonstrates David’s conviction about how God will protect us.
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”
David focused on a God that is much larger than any problem that we may experience. Instead of spending his time dwelling in self-pity, he set his thoughts on the Lord.
After pacing up and down the road, I made my way into my backyard. It was then that I saw the little dog run around the corner of the garage and make his way towards me. A sense of relief consumed me. I could have been angry towards Carl but I just couldn’t muster up negative feelings towards him.
As I opened the gate that led to the backyard, Carl pranced in and started chasing Bee like nothing had happened. Just knowing that he was okay was enough to send up a thank you up to God and to realize how grateful we all need to be for the little blessings of this life.