A few months ago, my dog and I were returning home from a walk when we were attacked by the neighbor’s Saint Bernard. I screamed and screamed as I kicked at the dog from the ground where I had been knocked over, but my neighbor never came out to call off her dog, even though we were right outside her house.

My dog valiantly tried to defend us, but he was dwarfed by the huge attacker. My dog was wearing a leash and a “gentle leader” which limited his mobility while the Saint Bernard was not bound in any way.

Needless to say, I was in a bit of a panic and dumbfounded as to why no one was responding to my screams and cries for help. There were people around. There were some landscapers down the street, and a car drove right by us. No one came to help.

After what seemed like a very long time but was probably only a couple of minutes, the Saint Bernard suddenly stopped attacking and simply trotted away, back into his house. I don’t know why, although I had been praying while I was screaming.

Afterwards, while laying on the ground with my dog, I phoned my neighbor. She came out right away. I asked why she hadn’t come out to help when she heard my screams. Her answer was that she “didn’t know what the screaming was all about.” Not that she didn’t hear. She just didn’t want to get involved in whatever was going on outside, and she had no idea her dog was loose.

It amazes me that this woman could hear prolonged screaming outside her house and not at least look to see what was happening and whether she could help.

Humans are very unreliable. We just cannot be trusted.

God, however, is always reliable. He can be trusted. Always. Every time.

“I waited patiently for the Lord, and he turned to me and heard my cry for help. He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭40‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭CSB‬‬

My cries for help are heard by God. When I put my trust in Him, He never ignores me. He may make me wait, because His timing is perfect and perhaps different than what I think I need. But He does not neglect me. He loves me and cares for me and promises to provide what I truly need.

Dear God,

Thank you for your promise to hear me and protect me and provide for me when I put my trust in you. Forgive me for being an unreliable human. I have ignored people in need many times. Show me today how to be more loving and trustworthy like you. And remind me to always turn to you first for help in all situations.