The Dog Days of Summer and A Restless Soul
Toward the end of July and into August, I experienced feelings of malaise and unease. When I shared my thoughts with a friend, she bluntly asked: “Why?”
Why indeed? I didn’t have a concrete answer, so I dismissed her question by saying, “Oh, just the dog days of summer, I guess.”
I heard that phrase for years, but didn’t know what it meant, so I researched its meaning. The Dog Days of Summer references a period of hot and humid weather during July and August.
This scorching phase of the year coincides with the rising of Sirius, the Dog Star. Sirius is the brightest star in our sky other than the Sun.
But the real question was why I felt the way I did. At the start of summer, I eagerly anticipated the joy-filled days of the season. Why should a period of dry, sultry heat disrupt those positive vibes?
A Restless Soul
The term restlessness sums up my mood. Writers of the Bible describe restlessness as inner disquiet. Unease is another term used. Restlessness is the opposite of rest. When our soul is restless, it is not at rest.
“Why are you in despair my soul? And why are you restless within me?”
(Psalm 42:5; Psalm 42:11; Psalm 43:5 NASB)
The psalmist asks himself these questions three times in Psalm 42 and 43. Clearly, he felt troubled. I understand why he sought answers. Inner disquiet is a hard thing.
Bible commentator Andrew MacLaren points out the psalmist is questioning himself as to the reasonableness of the emotions churning in his soul. MacLaren concludes by saying, “our moods and emotions need to be examined and governed by a higher self.”[i]
Was my restlessness unreasonable? I couldn’t identify a specific cause for it, so maybe. I finally took my restlessness to God.
Four Valuable Lessons
God led me to the source of my restlessness during my “Dog Days of Summer.” He also instilled four valuable lessons.
I. It’s okay to be vulnerable.
I had a couple of major disappointments this summer that I didn’t deal with. Instead, I ignored them. I swept them under the proverbial rug and kept on trucking. Maybe I feared accepting them made me vulnerable.
II. Feelings of unrest don’t make us less Christian.
I need to acknowledge and evaluate my emotions, including disappointment. I had so many things for which to be thankful that I suffered guilt about my agitation. Restlessness may signal a warning we need to pay attention to, so let’s examine our feelings.
During a sermon I heard a while ago, a pastor said our restlessness may be God stirring our soul, calling us to something different.
III. Waiting can be a good thing.
I hate waiting. Impatient for my familiar feeling of contentment to return, I rebelled and turned from God, which only added to the inner turmoil. Waiting with God is to rest in God. And rest is the opposite of restlessness.
IV. Jesus desires to share our burdens.
He tells us so throughout Scripture. In one of my favorite verses, He invites us to share His yoke, follow His lead, and rely on His support. This is the one true path to rest and contentment.
“Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.“
(Matthew 11:29 ESV)
Have you ever wrestled with unsettled feelings? How did you handle them or what did you learn?
Immersed in His Love,
Candyce
In case you’re curious to know more about Sirius, the Dog Star, check this out: Finding Sirius, the Dog Star.
Our restlessness may be God stirring our soul, calling us to something different. #restlessness #findingrest Share on X[i] Alexander MacLaren. Expositions of Holy Scripture.
I have dealt with restlessness and the challenge of identifying the reason. Thanks for your willingness to share your struggle with those of us who identify.
As you stated, we often feel like our struggles are “unchristian “, as though Christians always have it all together. Nothing can be further from the truth. A reading of the Psalms can quickly put that idea to rest. Instead, Jesus asks us to let him carry our load. These aren’t just words or lofty ideas. Trusting God in my unrest is a very real solution to a very real problem. The struggle is to learn how. Thanks for helping us through the Dog Days.
I find myself in the Psalms a lot recently, Terri. Thanks for contributing. I agree the struggle is to learn how! It sounds so simple to trust God, but we’re only human, after all. Reminding ourselves of our experiences living through the times of the past helps.
Sometimes that feeling of disquiet does plague me and I can’t identify the source. For me, frustration can come when there are too many things on my plate and I can’t figure out what to do first. Resting in God is the answer as you said. We just have to learn to “labor to rest” as it says in Hebrews. Seeking Him first will put our priorities in order. I did learn where the term “dog days” came from. Thanks for the lesson!
“Labor to rest.” That sounds like a contradiction, but I understand just what it means. Thank you for your wise thoughts.
Thank you Candyce for putting into words what many feel and experience. Tears, waiting, and restlessness can be good signals to draw us to the One who loves us and gives us direction and hope.
You state it well, Marilyn. The psalmist ends this verse with that same thought. God purposes everything for a reason.
Candyce, you have stated it perfectly. I experience the same things during the Dog Days of Summer. I didn’t know the history of the phrase. Thank you for the link.
I thought I did not want to accept my disillusionment of doing all I could during the summer as it swiftly flew by. I guess I am in good company, you and the Psalmist. Have a good rest of your summer.
Thanks for contributing to the discussion. Your insight applies to me as well. We want to hold on to what we have but look forward to what’s around the bend as well.
Blessings to you.
You’ve described my feelings, too, Candyce. Although my summer has been blessed, about this time of year, I begin to dread the cold of winter. That seems odd, since we’ve suffered so from heat and drought this summer. And I acknowledge that every season has its beauty (and I LOVE snow). But, I still mourn the passing of summer, and don’t look forward to cold weather. I get that restless feeling, too. Thank you for your message and wishing you the joy of a lovely Fall.
I am comforted to know I am not alone in this. I, too, am thankful for all of God’s seasons. Maybe mourning the passing of one is a process we all go through.