"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
Deuteronomy 31:8
As some of you may know, I am a volunteer handler for a dog rescue organization here in Phoenix. Every Sunday afternoon, I join my fellow volunteers for an adoption event at a local pet supply store and get the pleasure of working with numerous dogs waiting for their forever homes. Because I am a male, by default I get to hold the big dogs that are too much for the women to handle. Sexist, sure. But I love what I do, and believe that I am somehow contributing to the welfare of these poor creatures. (I still sneak in some cuddle time with the little dogs whenever I can.)
It saddens me every time I hear the story of how we acquired a new dog. Most of our dogs are pulled off of the euthanasia lists at animal shelters and pounds throughout the state. These are the adoptable ones who have run out of time and will be put down if no one claims them. Many of these animals are beautiful, healthy, vibrant creatures with tons of love to give away. I have to admit that I have fallen in love with several of them over the months that I have been doing this work. I would take them all home if I could (and be the neighborhood "crazy dog dude"), but that would not be practical or responsible.
Just last week, we acquired a beautiful 10-year-old female shepherd/lab mix named Aysha. Her family moved to Australia and couldn't take her with them. So, rather than finding a suitable home for their beloved pet, they simply left her behind. I honestly can't even begin to imagine how you decide to abandon your family pet after caring for her for 10 years, as if she was an extra piece of furniture that you no longer require. All she wants is for someone to love her and provide a safe clean environment for her to enjoy for her few remaining years. Sadly, her story is not unlike the stories of many of our dogs, whose owners could not (or chose not to) care for their pets any longer, and simply dropped them off at the nearest shelter, or worse. We have dogs who have been left in parks, parking lots, foreclosed houses. Dogs who never did anything to deserve being left to fend for themselves.
Needless to say, I think about the topic of abandonment a lot as I work with these beautiful animals. Abandonment is actually something very near and dear to me, as I have struggled with lifelong abandonment issues (the details of which I will spare you). One of the most attractive and appealing things about being a follower of Christ is the promise that God will never abandon me. From the early pages of the Bible through the end, God's promise to remain faithful and present with us is repeated. Jesus reassured His disciples that He would not leave them as orphans, but would send the Holy Spirit to abide with them until He returns (John 14:17-19).
No matter what I do or where I go, God's presence is always with me. Even before I gave my life to Christ nearly 29 years ago, I sensed God watching over me. Indeed, there were many times when I placed myself in danger's path, only later to see the hand of God protecting me and preserving my life. If God knows before we are born that we will one day receive the free gift of salvation, then it only stands to reason that He doesn't wait until we make that decision to manifest His presence in our lives.
I love the fact that, in the above passage from Deuteronomy, God precedes His admonishment to not be afraid or discouraged with His promise to never abandon us. If He simply said, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged", we would be less inclined to see how that would be possible in light of all the hardships that we face in life. But knowing that He promises to always be with us along life's journey makes it easier to not be afraid or discouraged. In fact, I believe that the times when we are afraid or discouraged are exactly those times that we forget God's promise to never leave us or forsake us. If I truly believe that God is always with me, in good times and bad, in life's darkest moments as well as on the mountaintops, then I cannot allow myself to be afraid or discouraged. The comfort that comes from this reality is priceless.
I don't know if Aysha will find a forever home where she can once again be loved and cared for, or if she will spend her few remaining years in a kennel or a foster home. But I can say with certainty that I know that I have my forever home already secured. I have been chosen and adopted by a loving Father who knows exactly what I need and provides everything accordingly. I never have to worry about being abandoned or forsaken again. My prayer is that you also have this wonderful assurance.
Have a blessed week!
Pastor David
