This week while at our horse-riding lesson our instructor and owner of the stables was wearing a big floppy straw hat to protect her from the sun. The wind was blowing the hat around her face and as she walked over to our son Isaac’s pony Leah to help him into the saddle, Leah decided she did not like her floppy hat at all. She started prancing around and backing up away from that big floppy hat. Our instructor however did not take her hat away as one would have thought she would, but instead held firmly onto her reins, took the hat off and proceeded to rub Leah’s head and neck with it. Leah backed up, kept running around in circles and tried her best to get away from that hat. Our instructor however just continued to hold her with that hat, the source of Leah’s fear, right in front of her face. Gradually over the space of the next five minutes she got Leah to realise there was nothing to be afraid of and to calm down so that she could once again wear the hat with no problems.
As I thought about that floppy hat and the horse’s reaction I realised that we can be exactly the same as Leah. We often see or sense something scary or unknown flapping in “our face” and all we want to do is back off or run as faraway as possible. We allow the “floppy hats” in our lives to intimidate us into not dealing with our fears, or stop pursuing those things that we want because they may have uncomfortable unknowns attached to them.
Jesus however isn’t phased by “big floppy hats”, and He wants us to allow Him to hold the reins so that He can show us that there is really nothing to be afraid of. It just takes us choosing to stop trying to run away, back off or prance around in circles so that He can show us that with Him there is nothing so big, difficult or scary that we can’t face and overcome together with Him.
Today if you are allowing some “big floppy hats” to intimidate you, then take some time to pause, breathe and then give Jesus the reins to your life. Choose to face your fears, acknowledge any pain, and understand that you are going to be okay because Jesus is with you holding the reins.
“I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. “ (Psalm 34-4-5)
“Show me how you work, God; School me in your ways. Take me by the hand; Lead me down the path of truth.” (Psalm 25:4-5 The Message)
Prayer: Lord help me to face my fears and uncertainties and to stop trying to do it all by myself. Please help me to overcome all my fears, knowing that nothing is too big for me to handle when you have the reins. In Jesus name Amen
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