SixEight Life

When you feel like a rescue dog….

This is the shelter picture of Biscuit that captured my heart. Love my rescue dog.

A couple months ago I “liked” a few local Atlanta Animal Rescue organizations on Facebook. I wanted to show my support and try to advocate for people to “adopt not shop.” My husband was immediately concerned because he knows I’m always just a few tears away from convincing him we need another dog. I’m definitely a sucker for a sad story. On a related note, I’m not allowed to go to pet stores on Saturdays. Adoption days are not good for me, I want to adopt all the puppies.

Anyway, I digress. I recently went through a period where I searched for a full time job. The period lasted about five months, and it was hard. I struggled with self worth and self confidence, and it was a daily struggle to just surrender everything to God. Finances, future, daily provision- all of it had to come from the Lord. Looking back, I can see the hand of God in this circumstance, it was in His perfect timing that everything worked out. But through the muddled viewpoint that comes from walking through a trial, at times it was hard to trust.

But back to the dogs. The rescue organizations I follow (Angels Among Us and You Lucky Dog) are really good at creating these profiles and stories about the pups they are rescuing and adopting out. I see posts pop up that go something like this: “My name is Sadie and I’m a 3 year old hound mix. I’m potty trained, really smart, good with other dogs, kids, and I even like cats! My former owner didn’t want me anymore so they surrendered me to (rescue organization). I don’t know what I did to deserve being abandoned, I feel so sad. I’ve been in boarding for six months now and I don’t understand why. Why doesn’t anyone want me? I’ll be a good girl, I promise. Won’t you pick me?”

Be.still.my.heart. I’m a big time animal lover so those stories get me every single time (refer to the beginning of this post about Brent not allowing me to go to Petsmart on Saturdays).

But I was thinking the other day that sometimes I feel like a rescue dog. I refer back to my job search. “My name is Emily, and I’m a twenty-something with two college degrees (with honors) and I really want to change the world. I’m smart, a hard worker, and I really love (insert social cause of nonprofit organization). I’ve been looking for months now but no one has picked me. Won’t you give me a chance? I’ll be a good girl, and I’ll work really hard to prove that I’ll be a great person for your team” See the similarities? Now obviously I didn’t state those words exactly at every job interview and in every cover letter, but there were certainly some similarities.

Sometimes we all feel like rescue dogs. We feel kicked to the curb, abandoned, or unloved. We feel like we will never be picked for marriage, the job, the team, or the friend group. It’s a hard place to be. We find our worth in our relationships, our status, our surroundings. Rejection can be excruciatingly painful. Disappointments can be crippling. But despite the disappointments in life, despite the times when you feel hopeless and alone, you are never abandoned. God cherishes each of us and has an amazing plan for our lives. And more than likely you have at least a few amazing people in your life who support and love you no matter what. We all have support systems, and we are all loved by God.

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”- Deut 31:8

That verse speaks powerful truth over all of us. So when you feel like a rescue dog, remember that you’re loved and cherished by God. He has a plan and a purpose and you will never be abandoned by Him. He will never leave or forsake you. Cling to Him, and cling to the people around you who love and support you.

And on another note: don’t shop, adopt! Rescue dogs are amazing.