“Wait it out, let God fix it, and YOU become the best YOU possible!”

That is what I woke up hearing this morning. (All you horse lovers should enjoy this devotion.)

As I pondered these words this morning, I thought, “how simple.” Right? Just wait it out, let God have it, and you keep your eyes on yourself and work on your personal growth and relationship with the Lord………no sweat.

The only problem is, that darn flesh, soul, mind, is not always going to agree with it. It’s like an untamed horse. You can’t talk your way through taming, and then slip a saddle and bridle on and ride. No, you actually have to go THROUGH the breaking. THROUGH the bucking, the resistance, and rebellion against the bit and saddle. And once they give in, you have to TEACH them to understand how to respond to your cues. 

The flesh is no different. It has been wild and allowed to run free in life and do what it wants. Now it has to be broken and taught how to be subdued and obedient. Trust is a HUGE part of this. When a horse doesn’t trust the rider, it will fight against the bit, try to remove the rider from its back, and be free because there is a level of fear that comes when you are trying to be managed by something you don’t fully trust. Hear this? When you don’t fully trust God, or understand the work He is doing in your life, you can be afraid of the process. Afraid of God. And while we are to fear the Lord, THIS is not the fear we are talking about and the very type of fear the Word tells us NOT to have.

Don’t tremble, and don’t be afraid. Didn’t I tell you and announce it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? There is no other Rock— I don’t know of any.” Isaiah 44:8

Over time, the more trust you develop with the horse, the more personal relationship that happens, a loving bond forms, and that horse and rider won’t need a saddle and bridle. A loving, mutual, ONENESS develops between the two where the horse is not there being controlled against its will. It takes joy, delight, pleasure in the ride with its friend on its back because the horse CHERISHES its relationship. 

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you [who are willing to learn] with My eye upon you. Do not be like the horse or like the mule which have no understanding, whose trappings include bridle and rein to hold them in check, otherwise they will not come near to you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trusts in and relies on the LORD shall be surrounded with compassion and lovingkindness. Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous [who actively seek right standing with Him]; Shout for joy, all you upright in heart. Psalm 32:8-11 AMP

I grew up around horses. There was nothing more beautiful and heartwarming than to be able to head out to the field with a halter and lead rope and have your horse see you and with joy come running, compared to the horse that you had to hide the halter, take a bribe of grain and hope that you didn’t have to chase it to catch it. They wanted the grain bad enough to be caught, but begrudgingly. It was always different when you rode the horse that came to you because it WANTED to be with you, compared to the horse you know you tricked into being saddled. Those were the horses that always put up a fight when you turned them toward the trial and away from the barn.

I think this is how some are in a relationship with the Lord right now. They want their marriage restored. But they don’t want to be roped into Standing and all that is required of them. Intercessory prayer is hard. They don’t enjoy the time spent in training, and they just want to be left alone, in peace. I wonder how God feels each time He approaches and wants to spend time with you when you need to be lured into it because you want marriage restoration?

I’ve really been impressed upon the Lord this last year to speak more about how our struggles come from unyielding flesh more than we realize. Most of the places that bring us the most pain are the places where would rather remain unchanged and free to be in our feelings. Or places we would rather not give up control. Standing teaches us to surrender, submit and do with a good attitude and posture. It teaches us how to really rely on God when we would rather just do it ourselves, or worse, not face it and just let things remain the same because the struggle to change things can be very difficult and exhausting. So many are not living their best life in freedom because the struggle it takes to break out of the bondage seems impossible. 

I wait for the LORD; my soul does wait, and in His Word I put my hope. Psalm 130:5

While we wait for God to do good work in our spouses, we will have to battle with many things. HOW you battle is key. How will you handle the lies, bullying, and intimidation that comes from the enemy who is always trying to harden your heart towards your stand, make you feel it’s impossible and too much for God? How will you deal with fear? Worry? Unbelief? How about anger and pain and all the weariness it brings? That is what “become the best YOU possible,” is all about. When you make your relationship with Jesus not only a priority, but a HIGH priority, then you can endure the wait while God fixes your spouse, and come out of the waiting the best version of you!

 

Standing with you,
Sheila Hollinger