The Christian Girl Chat

The Behavior of Puppies

My family has a 7-month-old puppy, and like most puppy parents, there are times when we have to put her in her crate—whether it’s because we’re heading out of the house or simply trying to get a few things done without her underfoot. To us, it’s no big deal. It’s temporary. She’s safe, warm, and has everything she needs.

But to her? It’s the end of the world.

The moment we close that crate door, she starts barking—loudly, nonstop, and with all the drama her little body can muster. She doesn’t want to be separated from us. She hates the confinement. She wants to be free to run, play, and be close to her people. And while it can be loud and annoying (and sometimes really wear us down), I’ve come to realize something important about her behavior:

She keeps barking because she trusts that we hear her. She believes, without question, that someone is coming.

One time, she was barking and crying nonstop in her crate and the revelation hit me. In her persistence, she has a deep belief that her cries matter. That someone will respond. And honestly, it reminded me of something I’ve wrestled with in my own life—my prayer life.

The Importance of Calling Out

I want to be like my dog. I want to be persistent in prayer, to stay in constant communication with God—not just when things are good or when I feel like it, but in every season. Because, like my puppy, I want to be near the One I love. I want to hear Him, see Him, feel His closeness. And I want to trust, deeply and unwaveringly, that He hears me.

But I’ll be honest: sometimes I lose that desire. Sometimes I stop praying for certain things because I feel like nothing is happening. I stop seeking, stop knocking, stop crying out. And I settle into a kind of spiritual silence—not because I’m at peace, but because I’ve started to believe no one is coming.

Just like our puppy eventually gives up, lays down, and resigns herself to the crate, I sometimes accept the silence as final.

But I don’t want to live like that.

I want to be persistent in prayer, even when I don’t see the results. I want to believe, like my dog does, that someone is listening and that someone is coming. Because God is listening. And He is moving—even when I can’t see it yet.

Scriptures to Encourage a Better Prayer Life

While my puppy reminded me of a valuable lesson and provided a great illustration, here are some of the verses I use that can help remind us of the purpose of prayer (ESV):

• “Pray without ceasing,” —1 Thessalonians 5:17
  • This short but powerful verse reminds us that prayer isn’t just a one-time thing—it’s meant to be a continual, ongoing conversation with God. Just like my puppy doesn’t stop calling out, I’m called to stay connected to God at all times.
• “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” —Psalm 145:18
  • God promises His closeness to those who sincerely call on Him. Even when it feels like we’re “crated” in silence or waiting, His nearness is real and constant.
• “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” —1 John 5:14
  • This verse gives us assurance: our prayers are not ignored. When we align our hearts with His will, we can confidently know He hears every word—even the desperate, tearful ones.
• “And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” —Luke 18:1
  • Jesus knew we’d face times of doubt and discouragement in prayer. That’s why He told the parable of the persistent widow—to remind us that our prayers matter and we’re never wasting our breath when we cry out to God.
• “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” —Matthew 7:7
  • This verse is an invitation to boldness. It reminds us that we are not bothering God with our persistence—we are following His command. He tells us to keep coming, keep asking, keep knocking.
• “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” —Hebrews 4:16
  • Because of Jesus, we don’t have to come timidly. We can come boldly to God in prayer, knowing He welcomes us, hears us, and meets us with grace in our moments of greatest need.

Conclusion

When I remember that prayer is the method God has created for me to cast my cares on Him, make my requests known to Him, worship Him, and also learn about His nature, I feel humbled. God doesn’t need me to pray, but I desperately need Him and His presence in my life. So, here’s to staying loud. Staying persistent. And never letting the silence make us forget that we are heard.