Audio version of this post:
Sometimes my dog, Sunny, gets in a bind. It usually has to do with the thing she loves more than anything in the world: Her frisbee. Maybe she’s dropped it in the pool and it’s floating beyond her grasp. Maybe I’ve thrown it into a tree where a branch holds it high above her reach. Her response is always the same. She frantically tries to retrieve it while incessantly barking, her eyes fixed on the object of her desire. This is when I ask the only question in our arsenal of commands; one that was born of necessity….. “Help?”
When I first began using that word, she would continue her futile attempts, barking even louder in response to my attention so I could understand the full extent of her distress. But now when she hears it, her eyes move from her problem to me. “Yes, I do want help,” she seems to say as she stops barking and becomes still. She waits for me to do what she can’t. And I do. Every single time.
I’ve noticed how much we – all of mankind, really – can be like Sunny in our panicked moments when something that holds value to us is out of our reach; when we feel stuck and see no way to resolve the problem or alleviate our fear and stress. How easy it is for us to make a lot of noise to express the full extent of our distress and repeatedly attempt to solve our problem in a way that hasn’t worked; that will never work.
Problems are actually a gift that way. When our illusion of control is challenged enough for us to see that we don’t have the solution, we are forced to reckon with our weakness and inability. Will we turn our eyes to the Master who is always there beside us asking “Help?” or will we continue to strive in futility, our eyes fixed on the object of our desire? It is a question, not a command, and it is entirely up to us.
If we do choose to turn our attention to Him, we will find peace before there has yet been a solution. Maybe not the first time around. Like with Sunny, trust takes time to build. But as we practice saying “Yes, I do want help” or “Yes, I need help,” we will come to see His provision. It may not always look like what we thought, but it will be there. Every single time. And it will forever change the way we see and operate.
We will become people who, when faced with trials, will look immediately to God to handle what we can’t because we have seen time and time again that He is able. We will lay down our struggles and become still, waiting on His solution because His reach is far higher and better than ours. We will develop compassion for others whom we might otherwise have judged for their weakness, offering undeserved kindness, because we ourselves have experienced the humble, miraculous joy of receiving help in our time of need. We will be people who will no longer be mastered by fear because our true Master has captured our vision and trust.
Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
where waves grow sweet 
A wonderful analogy, Kara (I really enjoyed hearing you speak the words too). Sunny is adorable, btw. Which reminds me that God sees me not with the impatient, hypercritical eyes I see myself with, but the way you see Sunny–with the eyes of love.
By: mitchteemley on October 27, 2023
at 3:27 pm
Thank you for reading/listening, Mitch, and for your compliments on my cutie pie!! That is such a great point about God not being hypercritical but looking through the eyes of love. If only that truth could sink in all the way!
By: Kara Luker on October 27, 2023
at 3:34 pm
Indeed!
By: mitchteemley on October 30, 2023
at 3:14 pm
Kara:
Another zinger. Love the way you right about real experiences. It’s not a stretch for us to stay with you, Thanks. Hope to see you I come out that way the weekend of November 10. Blessings on you and your family. Paul Anderson
By: Paul Anderson on October 28, 2023
at 6:33 am
Thank you, Paul! I should be around that weekend so hopefully I will get to see you. Safe travels!
By: Kara Luker on October 28, 2023
at 8:20 am
Kara, you’re my Featured Blogger this week. Blessings.
By: mitchteemley on November 15, 2023
at 9:08 am
What an honor, Mitch! Thank you!
By: Kara Luker on November 15, 2023
at 11:09 am
Kara, love the way Sunny calls for help and knows that you are there as his helper. God is our refuge, strength, and problem solver. So good to know that in the midst of trials, God hears and answers us!
Mitch featured you on his blog and sent you my way. Nice to meet you!
By: Pure Glory on November 15, 2023
at 9:54 am
Nice to meet you too! I love that you included problem solver in your description of God – it is amazing how beautifully he does that, especially when we see no way. Thanks for reading and commenting!
By: Kara Luker on November 16, 2023
at 7:31 am
You are welcome! 😊
By: Pure Glory on November 16, 2023
at 3:28 pm
Your adorable dog eventually learned because he wants to please his patient owner whom he loves. The devil makes sure it’s not so easy for those who love the Lord! Thank you for sharing such an endearing story with an enlightening message. 🙂
By: Nancy Homlitas on November 15, 2023
at 12:21 pm
It definitely makes it harder to be still when we have an enemy constantly stirring our doubts about God’s love and faithfulness! Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Nancy!
By: Kara Luker on November 16, 2023
at 7:39 am
Yes, problems are a gift if you think about it. Great post, Kara!
By: Vera Day on November 15, 2023
at 12:40 pm
Not always easy to see them that way but they truly are. Thank you, Vera!
By: Kara Luker on November 16, 2023
at 7:34 am
Thanks, Kara. These is a really helpful reminder. Sometimes, we think that making a lot of noise is important to express our concern. I guess that faith assures us that God can hear our quiet requests, and his repeated kindness encourages us for next time…
By: malcolmsmusingscom on November 15, 2023
at 1:40 pm
Beautifully said, Malcom! Thank you!
By: Kara Luker on November 16, 2023
at 7:35 am
I love this analogy, Kara, and you express it so well. I have received insights from relating to our pooch, too, such as his tendency to run to where he would THINK I was going to throw the next treat. But in time he learned to watch ME. And I have learned to keep my eyes on the Lord, too, instead of running ahead of Him and taking the wrong path. 😏🙄
By: seekingdivineperspective on November 16, 2023
at 9:04 pm
Thank you! That’s a great analogy too! I can’t tell you how many lessons I’ve learned from my pup. It delights me how many ordinary things God used to speak his truth 💗
By: Kara Luker on November 17, 2023
at 10:41 am
Hopped over here from Mitch Teemley’s blog–so glad I did! So appreciate the encouragement to “lay down our struggles and become still, waiting on His solution,” etc. Please thank Sunny for being such a worthy example for us to follow! (She is ADORABLE!)
By: Nancy Ruegg on November 17, 2023
at 1:44 pm
Thank you for popping in, Nancy!I’m thankful for your kind words and will pass along your praise to Sunny 😄
By: Kara Luker on November 18, 2023
at 7:11 am