Oh, if I could, I would still love to go horseback riding!
Hi, I'm Joni Eareckson Tada and although it’s been well over four decades since I sat a horse, I can still feel my feet in the stirrups, my legs pressing the sides of my saddle, and even how I use to grip the reins. Back when I was a teenager, I used to jump horses in different horse shows along the east coast. I had this big thoroughbred that I named St. Augustine (I used to call him Augie for short) and this horse loved to jump fences no matter how high they were, no matter how complicated the course of hurdles in the show ring. All I had to do was tighten my knees, aim his head toward the fence, help him pace himself and then – whoosh! – over the fence we’d go. Then I’d angle his head toward the next hurdle, then the next and the next. Augie and I would wind our way through a complicated maze of jumps and almost never did he shy away at the last second.
You know, I think it’s because he and I had a great relationship. I knew he trusted me as I held his reins. He knew when I would give him just enough slack to let his head go and he trusted me with how high those jumps were. It was the joy of that horse to do my will. And it never mattered whether or not he understood the course that was laid out before him. He showed no concern over how hard or how high those stone walls were, or how wide the fences appeared; he just loved to jump. And he loved me! And because he trusted my judgment, that horse just loved to do my will.
You know, for us humans, the paths of life set before us often seems like a confusing maze of difficult fences we are expected to hurdle. The more perplexing the pattern grows the more demanding the discipline becomes, the more we are tempted to doubt the wisdom of the one who is holding the reins in our life. We feel like disobeying God and avoiding what he asks of us.
The apostle Peter knew about this when he wrote his first epistle to believers. They were suffering greatly under the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero. These believers probably felt as though God were asking too much of them and I'm sure many of them doubted God's wisdom when they saw how much persecution and suffering lay ahead -- how could God expect them to hurdle such obstacles to their faith! Well, Peter gives them some pretty good advice in 1 Peter 4:19 when he said, "Those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good." There you have it. To commit yourself to your faithful Creator is to trust God. To continue to do good in the face of difficulties is to obey Him. According to Peter, you and I couldn't find a better summary of what God expects of you and I when the hurdles seem overwhelming and the pattern of your life doesn't make sense: He simply asks us to trust and obey.
You know, come to think about it, my horse's response to me did not hinge on his approval of the fences that were set before him. What counted was he knew me. And when it comes to your suffering what counts for you is that you should know God... you should know how trustworthy He is. And you can have every confidence in His wisdom. He'll never ask more of you than what His grace will supply.
Oh, friend, there's so much more I want to say and time is so short. Would you do me a favor and visit me today at joniandfriendsradio.org and ask for a little booklet I want to send you called "Is God Really in Control?" Please do not doubt the perplexing pattern in your life. Don't worry about the height of those hurdles God expects you to overcome. The One who is riding out your destiny is holding the reins.... and He's got more than enough wisdom to see it through to the end. Okay? Okay, and I'll be looking for you today at joniandfriendsradio.org. Until next time, thanks for listening to Joni and Friends.
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