TRUST: What A Horse Taught Me About God

Introduction

The journey described herein involves a very special horse. If you are like me, all horses are special. If you love the horse, you find yourself crying watching the winner cross the finish line in the Kentucky Derby. You joy in brushing a tangled mane to slippery smoothness and bury your face in it just to smell its pungent horsey fragrance. Your ears perk up when you hear the creak of saddle leather. Your eyes light up and your whole countenance radiates when someone brings up the topic of anything to do with horses. And you have been that way all your life.

The awesome power overlaying the extreme fragility of the horse is both frightening and decidedly needy. Truly God created these majestic animals not only for our practical purposes throughout history, but also to show us a glimpse of His desired partnership with us, his people. When we cease rebelling, kicking out and resisting His loving discipline we find ourselves in a good place. As we learn to trust Him, we find that He never fails us. Fearful reactions are steadily replaced by calm inquiries as to what He would have us do in a given situation. We discover Him a trustworthy Leader.

I had no intention of writing a book about any of this but God did. He gently pressed in with His wit and wisdom each time I felt like ignoring my horse or even giving up horses altogether. In my trials and fears I have found Him amazingly patient but oh, so direct. No one ever told me through all these years of sitting in church that He has a sense of humor. A wise teacher of mine once said, “Do not put your faith in your ability to hear God. Put your faith in God’s ability to talk to you.” His still, small whisper (I Kings 19:12) may indeed be quiet but it is the profundity of that whisper that rattles you to the core just as much as the sight of a burning bush would dumfound you or the crack of a lightening bolt might throw you to the ground. (Granted, I was literally thrown to the ground when this whole thing started.)

When the Lord impressed me to start writing about these lessons on fear and trust, I had no idea how to start. The core scripture He gave to me is found in I John 4:18—“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” (ESV) As His Voice of Love began to teach me in my spirit, I felt led to write in the intimate dialog of a letter. Truly His Word, the Bible, is His personal love letter to all of us.

On a practical point, please note that some of the names of people used in this book are not their actual names and the words you see in italics are often a paraphrase of Scripture but sometimes an actual quote for that is how I heard Him in my spirit. I encourage you to look up each of the Scriptures listed at the end of every chapter. They are of far more importance for you to read than my little story.

Perhaps you are like my horse Paladin and me. Perhaps you struggle with fear more than others seem to. Perhaps you want to trust God with your life but are afraid to step toward Him. Maybe you were so damaged by the cruelty of men you would rather turn away and kick out at everyone who even attempts to touch you and help you. Or maybe life hasn’t been all that bad for you but there is that underlying feeling of dread of what “might happen.” If so, or for any who simply want to read my story because you love horses, please dig in anywhere in the chapters if one of them strikes your fancy. The book is best read from beginning to end but my hope is that even one chapter, even one Scripture will encourage you to start your personal walk with God or renew a relationship you once had with Him. Above all, may it deepen further your love for Him and spur you on to seek Him who loves you and gave His life for you. It is my earnest prayer that you will hear Him more than me and realize, maybe for the very first time, that He is speaking to you, too. To God be all the Glory!

Marie Timm