THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER | Northstar Church

“Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” – Revelation 7:16-17 (NIV).

“The Dog Days of Summer” is an expression one often hears in baseball. The phrase comes from the very challenging days of playing baseball in the heat of the summer. Not only are players contending with the heat, but they are also contending with the length of the baseball season. Added to this is the sad reality that some teams recognize that their championship hopes have been shattered. Championships are won or lost in these “dog days of summer.”

The Christian can experience the spiritual “dog days of summer.” We experience dog days not just in the summer season but also during difficult seasons of our lives. These times may be miserable days, weeks, months, or even years. Someone going through cancer treatments may not have a single day they feel good for several months. Someone working two jobs to put themselves through college may be exhausted and stressed for four or more years. Dog days of life may center around any number of circumstances.

The good news is the dog days will not last forever. Regarding the summer heat, we are comforted that cooler fall weather is coming even in Florida. Likewise, in life, the dog days do not last. The Scriptures tell us that though the sorrows may last for the night, joy comes in the morning: “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalms 30:5). Even if our dog days last into the fall or next year we know they are not forever. One day, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever” (Revelation 21:4). And there will be a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1).

It is also important to remember that we do not have to go through our dog days alone. We have help for the journey. Jesus has promised, “He will neither fail you nor abandon you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). Further, we know God’s grace is all we need, and His power works best in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). We are not alone in our dog days, but instead, we have countless promises from God that He is with us in the midst of them.

Lastly, we need to remember that nothing is wasted. The Scriptures tell us the afflictions of our dog days are not in vain: “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:17). God will use our dog days for good in our lives as we trust Him.

Discussion Questions:

Have you experienced spiritual dog days in your life?
What did you do about them?