Listen To Your Instincts - Live like a Guide Dog

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV)

“Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. A third time the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:7-10, NIV)

Sometimes, when we feel afraid, we must listen to that voice in our heart. Call it instinct, call it intuition—it’s really the voice of God, guiding us toward courage and right action.

Years ago, I was on a business trip when my wife, Karen, ended up in the hospital. What we thought was “just a cold” turned into pneumonia. Before I’d left, we noticed that her service dog, Fantasia, had been exceedingly attentive. Little did we know that she sensed Karen was not well.

Her condition went downhill quite quickly, and I cut my trip short. My guide dog Africa and I flew back home as soon as I could. Not surprisingly, this was a time when I wrestled with fear. In my book, Live like a Guide Dog, I wrote about that day, and how God reassured me:

Africa and I boarded the plane around 2:00 p.m. I found my seat and she curled up under the seat in front of me. I tried to act calm, but anxiety gnawed at me, like a dog with a bone. Africa kept reaching up with her nose to touch my knees or hands, reassuring me with her gentle touch.

God, thank you for Africa. I need your peace and presence right now. I’m not looking for easy answers, God, just reassurance that you’re with me. What if my sweet Karen dies? How will I manage without her?

As the plane took off, tears welled in my eyes. I put my head in my hands.

When we got to cruising altitude, I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. It was one of the flight attendants. “Sir, are you alright? Can I get you anything? Some water?”

I struggled to regain my composure, unable to speak. “Is everything okay, sir?” he asked.

“Not really,” I blurted out, suddenly glad to have someone to share this burden with. “My wife went into the hospital on Saturday and now she’s in an induced coma. I’m going back home to be with her.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that. If there is anything at all you need, just let me or one of the other flight attendants know.”

His kindness was an answer to my prayers, even though it made me tear up even more. To this day it is hard to describe how much I appreciated his comments. I think God sent the right person to talk to me just then.

I took a deep breath and refocused. I imagined myself gathering up those fears in my hands and handing them to God. I sensed God reminding me to just let go and trust him.

Prayer for me is talking with God and being aware of God’s presence. I don’t ever go into the “Why is this happening to me” mindset with God. That is not the way God operates. In that moment—that life-and-death situation for Karen—I trusted that he was with us.

Our instincts are not as finely tuned sometimes as our pets’, which sometimes makes it easy to ignore them. But I’d encourage you: pay attention. Don’t be afraid to follow those instincts or nudges from God. Be like that flight attendant, who offered me a kind word when he could tell I was not doing well.

Prayer:

God, help me to pay attention to the ways you guide me—through my thoughts, intuition, imagination, and the people and animals around me. Help me to trust you when I feel afraid.