Draw Near

On By Beth AlisanIn Lessons

Adi is a licker.  So, I wasn’t alarmed when I noticed her licking her front leg.  When she persisted in licking this area again the next morning, I took notice.  I examined the skin- no bumps, redness, or swelling.  I observed her gait and saw no limp.  A bit perplexed I decided I would just keep an eye on the area.

Our school day got underway.  Normally, Adi would find a spot near us and lie down for a long nap.  Not this morning.  She was restless.  Anytime I sat down in a chair she was pawing my leg to have her chest rubbed or turning so I could scratch her rump.  When I sat on the ground, I immediately had a Lab on my lap.  “Boy Mom, she’s needy today,” my older daughter observed.  Our Adi- girl certainly wasn’t herself.  She couldn’t tell me what was bothering her, but she could clearly communicate her need for comfort and my presence. 

During a lull in lessons, I looked at Adi who was draped across my lap and the verse “Draw near me and I’ll draw near you” flickered through my mind.  In the quietness of the moment, I began to see how differently I respond when heart sick.  Unlike my Lab who had chosen to draw near and seek the comfort of her master, I choose to withdraw from my Lord and Master.  In hiding I lick my wounds, trying to understand the depth of my pain, waiting until I can fully articulate it before seeking the Lord’s comforting presence. 

  

Through Adi, the Lord was showing me that I do not need to give word to my hurt before coming to Him.  That in my silence, I can enter His presence and receive His comfort.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you . . .

James 4:8a

Listen to me . . . the Lord is with you when you are with Him.  If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.

2 Chronicles 15:2

Postscript

Within a week an inflamed spot did develop on Adi’s foreleg that took us to the vet.  An insect bite was the diagnosis and a round of medicine was prescribed which brought quick and complete healing.

© 2019-2023, Lessons from a Lab, Beth Alisan.  All Rights Reserved.

41 thoughts on “Draw Near”

  2. Poor Adi–not feeling like herself, but not knowing what was wrong much less able to communicate her discomfort to you. You brought to mind Romans 8:26–“We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” God doesn’t need words, any more than you did with Adi, to know that something is wrong. Silent surrender is response enough to experience his comfort and encouragement. Thank you, Beth, for your insight!

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  3. I am glad that Adi is alright! It is crazy what can happen with an insect bite! This was a wonderful post. God always wants to heal and comfort us; He waits for us to come to Him.

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    1. Thank you Linda! I heard a pastor once say that God is a gentleman. He waits for us to come to him rather than imposing Himself on us. Owning animals is an education in and of itself. I love how our vet takes the time to educate us on what is going on with our pets and how best to treat them.

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      1. You are the second person that I am replying or connect to like this….by a poem….the other one is my daughter.It just flows out and then I realize it’s actually a poem😃.have a great day.

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  6. I love your story and application, Beth. Sometimes I have no words when I seek God, or I feel as if I use the same old words over and over. But God is so loving and like you said, He desires me to draw near to Him, not to speak like a great orator. He knows my heart’s desire no matter my words. I also thought of you as the mediator between Adi and the vet, just as Jesus mediates between me and God. Such precious thoughts that bring me comfort today. Thank you!

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    1. Thank you Tierney. Her eyes have a way of melting my heart. Tell Mike that he has my handsomest face vote. We are certainly blessed with an amazing vet who has always been spot on in her treatment of our animals.

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  9. Beth, unfortunately, I too have retreated to “lick” wounds rather than directly seeking the comfort of my Master. But I see another benefit to Adi’s immediacy in coming to you. It provided an opportunity for you to intervene on her behalf meeting her needs.

    If I delay going to my Lord and Master for comfort, it may allow whatever afflicts me to fester and worsen, whereas, my loving Master is willing to meet my needs when I humbly come to Him for solace as Adi did to you. Thanks for this great lesson.

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    1. Thank you Manette! I wish my natural inclination was to be like Adi and take my wounds to the Lord. I’m so glad the Lord’s healing touch can take on any wound but oh it takes so much longer to heal when one is allowed to fester and infect other areas.

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  10. I’m glad Adi was ok! Those puppy eyes! 💕
    I love how wonderfully you’ve expressed that when we’re heart sick we also don’t need words in order to just be with our Father. Just in drawing near we receive comfort. A beautiful reminder, thankyou Beth.

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  11. I find this lesson instructive and at the same time comforting. In it I remember times when ill-health has laid me low and I sought Him in silent prayers of my heart, He heard my aching heart and brought me His peace. This is Almighty God, our Loving Father, Hallelujah!

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    1. Thank you Andy. She is an incredible communicator; unfortunately her human (me) can be slow to understand. We are blessed with an incredible vet who is always spot on in her treatment of our animals. I posted a review to your book on Amazon. Not sure how long it will take to show on your end. I’ll hop over to your website and leave the review as a comment on the post announcing your book. Hope all is well with you, Jo, and the boys! We’re in our final days of school. The girls are working hard to get all their assignments in before we leave for a family fishing trip.

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  13. I felt it all — the obvious need Adi had for healing and comfort. Somehow, I sensed your conclusion and, of course, I was not surprised. I loved the lesson!
    I have a piano piece I play from time to time…..”The Nearness of You”. Many secular love songs can also relate to our experience with Christ. Indulge me for just a moment to repeat the first sentence of the song: “It’s not the pale moon that excites me, that thrills and delights me, Oh, no, it’s just the nearness of You”. The nearness of our Lord.
    “Draw me Nearer” is the most precious song of all….”to Thy Precious bleeding side”. Thank you Beth. You ignite a thousands thoughts!

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    1. Thank you Mary! Your comments bring such a richness to these lessons. I just finished listening to “The Nearness of You” performed by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. A perfect application. What would we do without the nearness of our Lord.

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  14. We don’t need to wait to bring our burdens to God. This is such a good word, Beth! It’s amazing what our loyal canine friends teach us. God is a shepherd—a people shepherd. He knows and anticipates our every need. Great post! His best to you. 🐾🐾 Doggy hugs to Adi and Summer.

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  15. I love how you relate what you see right in front of you to the way our Father speaks to us. It is a true connection within the heart and mind to Him. He speaks to us in so many ways. Our pups know so much, they speak to us in their own way as well. I see that with my new dogs. Blessings to you Beth. Thank you for your wonderful insights on every post you write.

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    1. Thank you so much Sandra for your kind words. Our dogs do have a way of communicating if we slow down and listen. I know that you not only listen to your dogs but you also see and listen to what the Lord has to say through His creation. Blessings:)

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