Desires of the Heart: A Reflection

On By Beth AlisanIn Lessons

Five years ago this week our black Labrador Retriever joined our family. 

(Click here to read her homecoming story) 

Our sweet Adidas (better known as Adi) came as an answer to prayer.  She’s the dog of my girlhood dreams.  A dream I buried away in the recesses of my heart as a young adult.  One I thought had died away with time.  However, the Lord knows me better than I know myself (Psalms 139).  He knew that desire, though dormant, remained tucked away in my heart.  You see He never let it die away.  In His infinite wisdom and impeccable timing, He fulfilled that dream decades later.    

Adi is a daily reminder of God’s goodness.

She is a concrete reminder that He fulfills his promise as stated in Psalms 37:4

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:4

Maybe you have a dream tucked away in your heart.  One born long ago.  One that you have all but given up on as year after year ticks by.  I share this lesson with you as an encouragement to hand that dream to the Lord.  If it is in His will, He will not allow the flame of that dream to die out. Wait patiently! His way and timing is perfect.

” Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Matthew 7:7-8

© 2022, Lessons from a Lab, Beth Alisan.  All Rights Reserved.

28 thoughts on “Desires of the Heart: A Reflection”

  1. What a SWEET face on that Adi! No wonder you fell in love with her! You are so right, Beth. God does give us many desires of our hearts–even when we don’t delight in Him as perfectly as we might. When I was a girl my wishes included a pool in the backyard! Fast forward eighteen years and my wish came true. I married a pastor; we lived in Florida. Back in the day our denomination provided parsonages for their minister and his family. Two of the homes we lived in had pools, and for a total of eighteen years we were able to escape the heat with a swim–right in the back yard. They were especially enjoyed by our three children!

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    1. Thank you Nancy for sharing your answer to prayer! I love how the answer came in such an unexpected manner and could be shared with and enjoyed by your own children. His answers always have a way of exceeding our expectations.

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  2. Such a precious gift God gave you in Adi. And a great reminder that God knows us better than we know ourselves and his timing is perfect. What a beautiful and encouraging post, Beth.

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  3. This is so true. God is such a good God.

    I dreamed of a yellow bedroom with a border of roses near the ceiling when I was a little girl and saw such a room in a book. Guess what our current house had on the walls of what would become our bedroom when we toured it? I’d forgotten that desire until I was actually standing in the room for the first time. 🙂

    Happy New Year!!

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    1. Oh I love that Nora! Thank you you so much for sharing the story of the yellow bedroom. How beautiful it is that the Lord never forgets the desires of our girlhood hearts.

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  6. Our Bella, is a rescue dog who is now almost fourteen years old. i often thank God for her as she is a big part of our family and has brought us so much joy. God knew we needed her as much as she needed us. This was such a beautiful post! How uplifting to read this on New Year’s Day! Thank you and wishing you many blessings in the year to come.

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    1. Thank you Linda! Bella sounds like a wonderful dog. I love how the Lord used your hands to rescue her and in turn blessed your family abundantly with her companionship. Please leave me a link of any posts you may have written about Bella in the past. Happy New Year!

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  7. So true, Beth! I once prayed for three years for a dependable car. It kept me close to the Lord, though. The car I had I prayed more often…that it would start each time I got into it, and that it wouldn’t lose a wheel while driving it. Great is His faithfulness!
    Happy anniversary to you and Adi! New Year blessings to you and your family!

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    1. Thank you GW! This is a great testimony. Thank you for taking the time to share it. Sometimes I think what is learned in the waiting is more valuable in growing our relationship with the Lord than the answer itself. I look forward to reading what the Lord lays on your heart to write in this new year to come. Happy New Year!

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  9. Linda Lee/Lady Quixote

    This is beautiful. As a mom of three rescue dogs that I found abandoned on the streets, I know without a doubt that our dogs are a gift to us from the Lord. ❤ ❤ ❤

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    1. Diane

      This is a great way to start the new year. Thank you Beth for reminding me to keep my eyes on the bigger picture, his plan, not mine. I look forward to hearing about the Lord through the eyes of Adi in the upcoming year! May he bless you as you have blessed so many through your inspiring words.

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      1. Thank you Diane for your words and for your support! Looking forward to another year with our wonderful Labradors. It’s hard to believe they have been with us for five years already.

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  12. Thank you for the reminder, Beth. It’s easy to forget the power of our dreams—especially ones that God has for us. Life is hard. Many times our disappointments get us down. But then our “Adi” comes along. My Adi is a Miniature Schnauzer named Cooper. He’s twelve years old, and I know he can’t stay with me forever, but I love my little spunky friend. Thank you for your encouragement! Blessings to you and your family in the New Year. Doggie hugs to Adi and Summer 🐾🐾

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    1. In light of what I’ve learned from Adi, I’ve learned to pray, “Lord if this dream is from you I know You’ll keep it alive but if it isn’t of you thank you for letting it die away.” I’m so glad that you have your own Adi in Cooper! I have a lesson I’ve not posted yet that involves Adi a beagle, a golden retriever and a miniature schnauzer. Maybe I’ll share it in this new year. Happy New Year to you, Cooper, and your family, David!

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