Don't Be Afraid: A Lesson from a Lost Dog

I was talking with a friend today who is dealing with health issues and she was feeling afraid and discouraged. After praying together, she told me a story. Her dog had ran away when the dog was with her husband at his work. She drove over there having no idea where to look, but she just prayed for God to help her. The first house she knocked at, the person had not seen the dog, but they had just been to a national website where people can post lost dogs and noticed that a dog fitting her description had just been posted in her area. The person looked up the post and sure enough it was my friend's dog and she was able to go get the dog and bring him home right away. What are the odds I wonder? She thanked God for his help and there was no doubt in her mind that it was God who had helped her and led her to that house. I remarked to her that if God is helping you watch out for your doggy, how much more does he care about your health and your life? I think God really spoke to her about his care, concern and action-love through that faith building experience. Prayer is powerful only because of who we are praying to. I reminded her of the verse where Jesus explains that God cares for every sparrow:

 "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Luke 12:5-6