Fear Not
Horses are extremely intimidating to a lot of people! Maybe their size frightens them, or maybe they had a bad experience. Regardless of the reason, I have met countless people, some of which are in my own family, that have some level of fear when it comes to horses.
One of the reasons why I love horses so much is because of their unique capability of knowing what we need and when we need it. They are extremely therapeutic and can be incredibly gentle. They are also great at taking care of us when we have that relationship established with them.
This past week, I had my niece sleepover at my house, and man, did we have fun! She helped me with barn chores and worked with a couple of horses with me. We’ve been learning the basic safety around horses and how to care for them! Let me tell you, she’s got the mucking stalls and pushing wheelbarrows down pat.
After we were finished with the chores, she rode one of her favorite horses. Now, she’s rode several times with me before, but this time, we were working on specific techniques she needed to know. After a few minutes, she kept asking me if she could go really fast. Of course, being the protective Auntie that I am, I laughed and told her, “Maybe someday.”
This little girl was as fearless as it gets. She was bold and confident, ready to take on the fastest speed this horse would offer her. She then asked to take the saddle off and go bareback, another brave move. Of course, I was right there by her side, protecting her every step of the way as she stepped out of her comfort zone and built her confidence. Still, her bravery and fearless attitude inspired me to look at the areas in my life where I could be more fearless, too.
How many times are we fearful of doing something out of our comfort zone? Or just fearful in general? Did you know that when you take that brave step, even if you are still a little afraid, God is also right there next to you, protecting you every step of the way?
What an incredible peace we have, to know that God is with us through everything. He is a protective Father, and cares so deeply about each one of us.
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” -Isaiah 41:10
If you’ve never been around horses, I encourage you to find your local farm or reach out to that friend that has horses and give it a try! I believe God works through animals and you never know how He might bless you when you step out of your comfort zone.
Journal Prompt:
Where can you be more fearless in your life? Is something holding you back from stepping out of your comfort zone? If so, identify it and give it up to God, the ultimate chainbreaker!
Ref: Psalm 34:4, Joshua 1:9
