Riding Lessons
Ruth Ann Stites, Staff Writer
A while back my great nephew, Enoch, decided he wanted to learn to ride a horse. His grandmother (my sister Sandra) told him she’d teach him. When it came time for his first lesson, she put him up on her quarter horse mare, Texas, who is great with kids. As Sandra led them around the pasture, she noted the way her horse was walking extra carefully, smoothly, and steadily. As her young passenger gained confidence, Texas’s stride changed into her usual walk. My sister thought this change provided a great analogy to the way our God deals with us as we gain confidence in our discipleship and ministry.
When we are placed in new and unfamiliar circumstances, we tend to become anxious, if not outright worried or afraid. It’s tempting to allow these natural responses to become barriers to Christian growth. But that is a temptation we need to counteract as quickly as possible. Paul addresses the issue of being tempted to do evil in 1 Corinthians 10:1-13. Using the history of the Hebrew people’s wilderness years as an example of succumbing to evil, he concludes with the following “escape plan,” “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Cor. 10:13). Or, to put it in terms of Texas and Enoch, His stride matches our confidence and ability to ride. We are safe to let go of any and all of our temptations to sin and learn to be faithful disciples when He is in control.
One of my favorite Old Testament books is Isaiah. In addition to its great truths, its literary style makes it supremely quotable. This is how that ancient prophet expressed our ability to trust God for taking the next step, and the next until we reach the goal He has in mind for us.
You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.
The path of the righteous is level;
you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth. (Isa. 26:3-4, 7)
It’s not easy to learn to be an effective Cross Disciple, but the glorious truth is that we don’t do it alone, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31b).
(Photo credit: Sandra Edster, Texas with a novice rider and handler)
