I’ve always loved horses.

As kids growing up on 18 acres in rural PA, my sister and I had ponies.  My dad who was raised on a farm taught us how to put on a bridle and saddle and manage and care for a horse.  Years later, we boarded a beautiful chestnut mare for a friend.  And as a teen, I would ride “Princess” bareback for hours roaming the countryside.

As an adult, I’ve kind of lost touch with the equine species. There weren’t a lot of horses in Northern Virginia, at least not where we lived.  I did get to assist for a week at a horse camp that my daughter Amanda attended.

Now that we live in Lancaster County, horses are everywhere. Not a day goes by in which I don’t see horses grazing in the field or hard at work on an Amish farm or pulling a buggy on the road in front of our house. Some people get frustrated because the presence of horses slows down traffic, but I don’t mind.  And I always try to give plenty of room while passing to not spook a high-strung horse or “horse in training.”

Observing horses daily has made me a bit of a student of their behavior. They’re fascinating creatures, each with their own personality. There’s the frisky, high-stepping young horse with its head up and ears forward, excited to be out for a ride. Then there’s the older, tired horses whose body language and dragging feet say, “Can we just go back to the barn now?” Some horses are curious, always looking left and right, while others are all business, focused straight ahead.

But one thing is certain, horses have minds of their own.  This summer I saw a pony galloping down the road with a young boy of 10 on a two-wheel horse cart, desperately hanging on for dear life. It was clear who was in charge- and it wasn’t the boy!

I’ve found that one of the best places to observe horse temperament is when an Amish or Mennonite buggy is at an intersection.  Just take a minute and observe.  Is the horse quiet and compliant or stamping its foot and impatiently arching its neck? The other day I saw a horse at a 4 way stop. The owner wanted to go straight, but the horse had other ideas. While its body moved through the intersection, its head was awkwardly craned at a 90-degree angle. A headstrong horse is dangerous.  More than once I’ve seen a horse try to move directly into oncoming traffic, defying the rein’s firm direction.  Guiding a spirited  horse on a busy road is not for the faint of heart.

On a spiritual level… What kind of horse are you? Are you stubborn and resistant, constantly tugging against the reins and insisting on your own way?  Or perhaps you’re like that horse at the four-way stop, outwardly moving forward, while inwardly your heart has turned in another direction. Our stubbornness can lead us into dangerous situations—sometimes harming ourselves or others—all because we refuse to trust the One holding our reins.

Psalm 32:9 warns,  “Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.” 

God’s desire is not to force us into obedience through harsh tugs or strong-arming us into submission. But, if necessary, He may use firm measures to protect us. But His heart is to lead us with a gentle hand, guiding us with subtle nudges in partnership together.

The closer we walk with God, the more sensitive we become to His voice and direction. Like a well-trained horse responding to the lightest touch, we learn to follow His lead without resistance. His guidance is always for our good—whether He’s steering us away from harm or leading us to greener pastures.

So, what will it be? Will you trust the loving hand of the Master, or will you resist, pulling against the reins and risking unnecessary hardship? The next time you see a horse grazing in a field or (if you’re in Lancaster County) pulling a cart down the road, let it remind you of the choice we all face: to fight God’s leading or to surrender and follow the One who knows the way.  Freedom and peace comes when we walk in step with His perfect guidance.