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Before we get to the heart of todays newsletter, let's take a look at horses. A horse is a prey animal with a built-in fear instinct that is always present. As a result, avoiding trouble and staying safe is always on a horse's mind. Sure, with the best trained horses, it may seem as though the fear-factor has been erased from their psyche, but make no mistake about it, it is a part of every horse's survival DNA. This is the reason that even the best "bomb-proof" horse has the potential to spook if the right circumstance presents itself. And what do we mean by bomb-proof? Let's face it, few people know what it really means since the term bomb-proof is seldom used in todays politically correct horse culture, having been replaced with kinder, softer, more socially acceptable words like "gentling".
Essentially, bomb-proof was a term old timers used to describe a horse that wouldn't spook even if you lit a firecracker under his hiney! Forgive me if that sounds a bit too crass, but it gets my point across. That brings me to another point. Bomb-proof horses are made, not born. So, how do you make a horse bomb-proof? I'm glad you asked...
Let's look at how some wise, old timers bomb-proofed their horses back in the day. First off, they gave their horse a job to do. They also allowed their horse to experience just enough trouble along the way so they'd have enough good sense to know how to deal with real trouble should it come along. And finally, they put some miles under their horse's feet, always bringing him safely back home, albeit with a wet, sweaty saddle pad! The result was not only a bomb-proof horse, but a well-broke horse that quickly learned how to trust his Master through thick and thin. Today, unfortunately, our horses stand around like backyard pasture ornaments on social security while we study horse psychology endlessly, and chase them around in circles while shaking plastic bags or flags tied to sticks at them. Sure, the horse eventually becomes used to the troublesome plastic bag or flag whisking wildly about his face and body, but he is by no means bomb-proof. He's just desensitized to the troublesome plastic bag or flag!
Desensitizing my horse, Samson, to a
plastic raincoat - just in case we ever need
one in an unexpected rain storm!
Don't misunderstand what I'm saying here - plastic bags, flags on sticks, and things that move and make a noise are all necessary training tools that help desensitize a horse to everyday "spooks", and I use all that kind of stuff whole-heartedly. But what about those strange, often scary, troublesome things that happen unexpectedly in life that your horse isn't desensitized to? For example, you're riding your horse down a quiet mountain trail enjoying life when suddenly you come face to face with a big, ugly-looking, hungry black bear. Just when you think it couldn't get any worse, you discover that the ugly bear with a bad attitude has three baby cubs by her side. Oops! It's one of those "come to Jesus" moments that we never want to experience, and we quickly discover what our horse is made of. If he's just desensitized to familiar trouble, no doubt, he'll spook. At this point, it's not a matter of "if", but "how bad and for how long". On the other hand, if he's truly bomb-proof, he won't spook. Instead, he'll choose to put his trust and faith in you (his Master), and walk confidently right past the trouble without so much as a twitch of his ear. At this point, you are safe, but you should probably begin praying now that there's not an elephant around the next corner. Just kidding!
Ahhh, time's short and I'm not getting any younger, so let's cut right to the chase. There's an old gospel song that says, "All God's children got trouble". In many respects, that's true. The Bible tells us that man is born to trouble. ("Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward." Job 5: 7, NIV) If you've never experienced any trouble in your life, either you haven't lived long enough, or you'd better check your pulse. As strange as it sounds, the problem with life on earth isn't that we encounter trouble. After all, trouble comes with the territory. The real problem is our lack of knowledge concerning God's Word when we do face trouble, and not fully understanding who we are in Christ.
The Bible says that as believers, you and I are not like those who have simply become desensitized to life's trouble, nor are we like those who stand in fear when trouble comes knocking at the door. Instead, we are more than conquerors in all things! ("No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Romans 8: 37, NIV). That means that through Christ, we have been given not only the ability but the power to walk through even the deepest of trouble with bold confidence and assurance. It also means that no matter what circumstance we face, nor what trouble we encounter, our trust remains firmly in the Lord. And that, my friend, is what it really means to have bomb-proof faith!
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