I did some research and found that small sizes are associated with fearfulness. No wonder when my tiny dog Peepo sees a frog, he growls right at it but scurries quickly behind my legs when the frog pounces back. “Peepo, that frog is much smaller than you,” I’d say, laughing at him. 

On Independence Eve last September, my family and I went out to enjoy the Christian Parade and other festivities here in Belmopan. We didn’t stay out too long because I had to wake up early the next morning. It was 10:00 p.m. when we got back home, and I went straight to bed. Suddenly, I was awakened by the sound of fireworks. There was an unusual cry coming from the yard, and without hesitation I jumped out of bed. It was Peepo’s “crying bark” as I call it, telling me he needed comfort. I ran downstairs, and there he was in the corner, curled up in a ball and trembling in fear. 

I sat on the stairs, and Peepo immediately ran under my legs. This is his usual response when he is afraid; it is his instinct. I consoled him saying, “Peepo, you don’t have to be afraid. You are sheltered under the roof.” Then the Lord brought Psalm 91:1-4 to mind: 

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

There was something about Peepo’s cry that I could relate to. But there was also something about my response to his cry that reminded me of who God is. 

I thought to myself, If I, just a human, tend to the cry of my dog, how much more will the God of the universe respond to me when I cry out to him! Sometimes we live with the fear that when we call on the Lord, He won’t answer. But Psalm 91 reminds us of this truth: When we call on Him, He will surely save us. I wish it were my immediate response to run under the covering of the Father when I am afraid, but often, I allow fear to be much greater than my trust in God.

I'm grateful for the moments when I do make the effort to “dwell in,” “say of,” and “find” the Lord because He graciously shelters me. God always keeps His promises, but it requires us to take an action of faith. He always responds to our obedience. The Bible says He knows us one by one. That means He even knows our cry. When we begin to renew our minds and recognize how big God is, fear becomes small. It doesn’t stand a chance when we are sheltered under His wings. 

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