When I married my husband and moved to his house in the woods, I quickly learned that something with fur would be living with us. Since I didn’t care for mice continuing to chew holes in my clothing, I opted for a cat. All was well until I was diagnosed with allergies to dust (like I don’t have any of that around here) and pet dander. Forgetting about my lesson learned, when our cat went missing we didn’t replace her.
After opening up my pantry to see a hole chewed in every box and bag, I remembered the lesson and we began the search for another cat. My brother-in-law had a friend who needed to rehome his cat. She was young, fixed, and an excellent hunter – just what we were looking for! So Snowmobile Mike (I cannot make this up) came over with his cat.
We went into the sunroom since we can close it off from the rest of the house. Snowmobile Mike opened the door to the cat carrier, and she immediately ran into the corner and hid under the table. I didn’t think much of it since I’ve never had a cat who traveled well. Eventually, she came out and allowed me to pet her. When she rolled onto her back so I could scratch her belly, Snowmobile Mike assured me that she must REALLY like me. So she stayed.
Never trust a man called Snowmobile Mike.
I allowed the cat to move at her own pace. Eventually she wandered to the basement. Since that is where I keep the litter box, it seemed that all was well. Except that I never saw her come out of the basement. I went to bed that night a bit concerned about what I might wake up to with a strange cat loose in my house.
The next morning, I was relieved to find my home still intact. What I did not find was the cat. And to make matters worse, the food I set out for her was untouched. Now I’m getting worried. What if we can’t find her? What if she refuses to eat? What if she curls up and dies somewhere and I have to convince my husband to look for the body?
This occurred at a time when we already had a lot going on, my health was not the greatest, and I really did not need one. more. thing. Then I read this in Isaiah 14:24: The Lord of Hosts has sworn: As I have purposed, so it will be; as I have planned it, so it will happen (HCSB).
I think most people who spend time reading their Bible know that God is in control of all things. The question is, do we live like it is true?
With this in mind, I asked God what He wanted me to learn from this cat. Almost immediately, in my head I heard, “You are the cat.”
You are the cat!
Not flattering, but He has a point. Like the cat, I am not a huge fan of change. And at times, it can be tempting to curl up in a corner and hide. Before we can step out in faith, we need to know God well enough to trust Him.
If only the cat would learn to trust me.
SIX. MONTHS. LATER.
SIX. MONTHS. LATER . . . I have yet to lay eyes on “my” cat. She’s still in hiding, self-exiled in a dingy basement prison of her own making. Now, she’s probably feeling quite self-sufficient. She easily finds food and water. She probably thinks the litter box cleans itself.
It does not.
She has no idea that I am the one providing food and cleaning up her messes.
It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts (Ecc. 3:13).
How often do we worry, forgetting that God is continually providing for us?
How often do we forget to thank Him?
As the snow began to melt and the sun reappeared from behind the dark winter cloud cover, the cat found it took more and more effort to find food. It was harder because I was making it harder. First it was across the basement, then it was on the stairs, on the landing, and finally, in a live trap in my living room.
Why a trap? Because I am a cruel tyrant? Because I enjoy watching her struggle? No. It was because I knew that the trap would lead to freedom. Obviously, she was not cut out to be a housecat. With her lack of affection for humans, we felt she would be much happier as a barn cat.
Even if He causes suffering, He will show compassion according to His abundant, faithful love. For He does not enjoy bringing affliction or suffering on mankind (Lam 3:32-33).
The cat will never experience freedom without trusting me. But she won’t trust me if she doesn’t know me. And she won’t know me if she doesn’t spend time with me.
We are the cat.
We will never experience freedom if we don’t trust God. But we won’t trust Him if we don’t know Him. And we won’t know Him if we don’t spend time with Him, in His word and in prayer.
We brought the live trap and its occupant to the front porch and opened the door. The cat shot out of the trap and ran to the middle of the front yard, then hesitated. She looked at us for a moment, then turned and sprinted off into the woods. Never to be seen again.
Where are you now?
- Feeling self-sufficient?
- In a dingy prison?
- At the crossroads trying to determine which way you’ll go?
- In the place of trust?
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13, NIV).
*NOTE: While the photos are my cats, none of them are the scaredy cat. We never saw her long enough to get a picture.
Lisa Lewis Koster 
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