So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 Lightning flashed brilliantly and the thunder answered in kind as I came through my front door. Heading through the house to the back door I saw that Star and Daisy, my dogs, were already jumping on the door wanting in. The look in Star’s eyes jolted me. Star wasn’t home. Her anxiety had reached such a level that the thinking part of her that I knew as Star was buried deep inside. I did the only thing I knew to do. I leashed them both and we walked figure 8s around the large covered deck as I sang. I knew I needed to drain a lot of that pent-up, anxious energy. I breathed in, I breathed out, trying to keep my own energy calm.

Since then, I have lost Star. She was old at the time of the instance I relayed above. I am happy that she no longer fears storms. However, Star passed on her fear of storms and fireworks to Daisy. Most of the time, Daisy is a gregarious, happy dog. Since Star’s death, I have been working with Daisy to overcome her fear of storms.

We live in Oklahoma, so the potential for severe weather is a way of life. In fact, I can tell when a storm is coming by watching Daisy. During a storm, I leash her to stop her pacing, thus helping decreasing her anxiety. Many times we will go out on the deck to watch the storm. I feel so bad for Daisy being so needlessly anxious. I tell her, “We ain’t ‘fraid of no ghosts!” I also tell her that she does not need to be afraid because I am with her. I will not let harm befall her or let her get herself into a dangerous place during the storm. I work at being extraordinarily calm, so that she can pick up calmness from me.

To Daisy, the loud noises spell disaster. But I know better. I know that even though it sounds as though the world is coming apart, it is simply thunder; it is simply fireworks. I want her to believe me. In all fairness Daisy is calmer now during storms than she was when Star was living. My goal is for Daisy to be completely desensitized to storms.

It occurred to me that this is exactly what God is telling me throughout scripture. “Don’t be afraid.” “Don’t be distraught.” “I am here.” “I will give you strength.” “I will help.” “I will hold you up.” Somehow, I don’t have the power to experience the truth of the above verse in the middle of my chaotic day. However, in the daily times that I spend quietly with God, then these truths are able to begin penetrating my psyche. My heart rate and breathing slow down. I realize that I have been tensing my neck and shoulder muscles. I can breathe in and breathe out. Just as I want Daisy to experience my energy, in my quiet times I can practice experiencing God’s energy. Then when I get back to the busyness of daily life, I am more likely to tap into God’s energy than my own.

Let’s pray:

Lord, please help to sense your presence in the middle of the busyness of life and draw my energy from you.