Fear

   A few years ago we decided that it was time for my hubby to get his first dog:)  We headed to our local rescue center and decided to adopt a dog that was at least a year or older, since all the puppies get adopted so quickly.  After searching for our perfect match, we found Jake.  He was so sweet, and got along great with our other dog, Nicky, we had brought with us.

  It's always so exciting to get a new pet- and we had a blast bringing Jake home and loving on him.  As we got to know Jake more though, we learned that he had massive separation anxiety- probably because his first family had indeed left him.  When we were home, he was golden.  But if we left the house, Jake had a royal freak out- literally climbing the walls and destroying whatever he could.  We decided we would need to crate Jake, and got a huge crate for him outside, set up underneath our carport so it was safe from the elements.

  We then began learning what a great escape artist Jake was.  We would come home and find Jake sitting outside our front door; or we'd get calls at work from our neighbors letting us know he was in their yard (super fun).  We began trying everything we could- different latches, locks, etc- to keep him in his crate.  He prevailed, destroying the crate and his own teeth to get out.

  So we purchased the Kong crate. THE Kong crate.  Indestructible!  Inescapable!  Inexpensive!... wait , n o... very expensive!;)

  We also did crate training with this crate, going through all the steps of getting him used to/happy with it.  Yes this might have involved us hanging out in the crate with him;)

  He escaped the first time in it.

  And so again... new latches, new locks, a second door...  all destroyed in a few months.

  And so, after 3 years, hundreds and hundreds of dollars, different anti-anxiety medications, methods and training, many personal things destroyed... we had to give up.  And we had to take sweet Jake back to the adoption center.

  It was so not easy.  Very painful.  But we literally could not contain him, and had tried everything we could.

  The worst part was that Jake's fears had made themselves come true.  He was panicked that we would leave him, and that panick controlled his behavior to the point that we indeed left him.

  Don't we do the same thing?

  We let ourselves be controlled my fears, worry, and anxiety; and our behavior becomes so twisted that we make our fears come true.  We fear problems in our relationships and hence behave differently... and then we create problems in our relationships.  We are anxious over the what-ifs that never come true and yet we hide in their possible consequences. We literally worry ourselves sick.

  And we allow Satan to rob us of the joy of the here and now.  The joy of health.  The joy of love.  The joy of every blessing God has given us.

  Who cares if the bad things happen if we're gonna let those things control us anyways... let them intimidate us and weaken us when they haven't even occurred.  What's the point of things ever going well if we're gonna live like that?

  God's most common command is to not be afraid.  DON'T be afraid!  Do not fear!!!  Not before the bad things happen, not when the bad things happen, not after the bad things happen... DON'T BE AFRAID.

  Instead it's time we claim the joy and blessings from God, soaking in every moment and knowing that when the bad things happen, He will be there to carry us through.  So there's nothing to be afraid of.  He's got it.  He's got us.

 There's plenty to fear- but we just can't live like that.  We'll end up like Jake, putting ourselves in cages and returning to our shackles.  God's adopted us and set us free... let's not go back to our adoption center lifestyle.  Live fully in the freedom and joy He gave us!