Vain Hope for Deliverance

In this time of waiting, I found myself in the coffee shops once again. In biblical times, the well was a place of communal gathering—some have called coffee shops the modern well. I enjoyed the smell of roasting coffee beans and the peaceful ambience as I saw people turning the pages of their bible and overheard muted conversations about Jesus. I, myself, was working on a Bible study in one of the comfy chairs by the fire at my favorite coffee shop when I was joined by one of my dear friends. I call her my "cool drink of water." When I felt dry and parched, she would bring encouragement that was like a glass of cold water on a hot day. How often her sweet words of encouragement had given me the strength to carry on. Today was no exception. 

It was such a confusing time. There was the possible horse ministry . . . the creation ministry . . . the job at the camp . . . or not? It was just so confusing. I don’t remember what all was said, but I know I was left refreshed and rejuvenated. I could continue to wait on the Lord another day. As we stood to say our goodbyes, I do remember standing there, halfway to the door, receiving her hug and sharing some final thoughts. 

“I don’t know where God is leading, but I do know that if I continue in horse ministry, it can’t be about the horse. It seems like such a slippery slope. So often it becomes all about the horse and God is sort of pushed out the back door . . .” I bemoaned the fact that, as I had been out in the community promoting HorsePower, I was expected to use the tagline: "the power of the horse to heal." I just couldn’t continue to espouse that—I knew who had the real power to heal. I finished by saying, “Whatever ministry I step into, God needs to get all the glory.” She agreed wholeheartedly and, with a final hug, we parted ways.

Returning to the Bible study I had set aside, the second verse I was to look up was Psalm 33:20. After finding Psalm 33, I ran my finger down the page to find verse 20. The last verse on that page was verse 17, so with my finger resting on it I went to turn the page to continue my search when my eyes took in the words my finger was pointing to . . . something about a horse. Interesting. I went on to read it in its entirety, “A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.” I kid you not. Just a few short minutes after my conversation with my friend, God pointed out to me in scripture precisely what I had just stated! A verse I don’t remember seeing before. A verse I never would have sought out on my own. Yet, there it was, jumping off the page at me. How much more specific could it have been?! It was, quite literally, precisely what I had just shared.

Eager to see what verse 20 said, I turned the page to find, “We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.” Goosebumps were raised on my arms and the hair stood up on my neck. This was no accident, no coincidence. This was God in heaven affirming what I had just told my friend. You are getting this right, daughter! This is the way, walk in it! The horse would not be the one to save these broken and hurting people. While a useful tool and an effective therapy, the horse was merely that—a tool. It was God that would heal, God that would save! I was resolved, now more than ever, to put my hope in the Lord. To wait on the Lord. Whether my ministry ever used horses again, or not. 

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,

just as in fact you are doing.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV

“To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Philippians 4:20 NIV

“A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;

despite all its great strength it cannot save.”

Psalm 33:17 NIV

“We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.”

Psalm 33:20 NIV