We recently got a new toy for our dog, Sabrina. It is a little rubber basketball that squeaks...and she absolutely loves it! She totally ignores her other toy now, one that she thought was filling her needs, but not nearly as perfectly as the new one! Now let me tell you a few things about Brina....she LOVES meal time and she will tell you everyday when it is time to feed her, but when she got this new toy, she was at first reluctant to put it down even to eat! She also chose to play with the toy rather than beg for our food at dinner time also (and she usually never misses an opportunity to ask for our food too!) This toy has also made her fearless. She will crawl through chairs under the table, stick her nose in bags, jump in the bathtub, dig behind the window blinds....all things that would have normally freaked her out, just to get her toy. Brina is also scared of thunderstorms and she usually lies on the bed between Danny and I panting like crazy while the storm rages on....but last night, during one of the worst storms we have had in a while, she took her toy and lay down on the floor by the bed...still scared but a little more brave too. She will pick it up and take it with her from room to room and it's never far from her when she sleeps.
That's kind of how things are when we have Jesus...he satisfies our needs, he gives us strength and courage we didn't even know we had, he comforts us and protects us, and even when the storms of life are raging, we can sleep peacefully, knowing that he is right there with us and will never leave us.
"This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8
