Racing with Horses

UV 3496/10000 Racing with Horses
The Lord rebukes Jeremiah for his impatience, saying, “ If you have raced with men on foot and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses? If you fall down in a land of peace (where you feel secure), then how will you do (among the lions) in the flooded thicket beside the Jordan?

Jeremiah 12 v 5

We should not be impatient if we want to see God’s goodness, justice and love playing out its full course in our lives. He builds patience, faith and character in us by taking us through fire and water. The challenges we face are meant to build spiritual strength and stamina in us. We are not meant to race against fellow humans but against forces far more powerful than us. The word uses the metaphor of the horse, that people of faith are to race against horses that are on an average ten times more powerful or stronger than humans. We should not get weary or lose our morale while confronting the challenges the Lord allows in our lives. Only a test brings out the best in us.

We should not be terrified by the problems we encounter in our daily lives. We are meant to walk among the spiritual equivalent of lions and not be afraid of these roaring and deadly beasts. We need to stock up on our faith so that whatever we encounter we will not let fear take root in our hearts. We need to know that He can safely take us through the valley of the shadow of death for His shadow of protection and equipment is more powerful. David was a man after God’s heart as he had indomitable courage that was fueled by his personal faith in Almighty, Omnipotent, All knowing, Caring Jehovah. Hence, he alone rose to take on the challenge of the taunting Goliath. With pint-sized pure faith, he overcame a giant. The world can taunt us but we should not allow our mortal fears to haunt us. We can behead our challenges with its own power even as David beheaded Goliath with his own sword.

We are destined for victory. The Lord will bring us safely through fire and water. Our physical eyes might perceive the huge challenges we face but the eye of faith , the vision of a heart filled with faith in the Lord and His word perceives ultimate victory, ultimate peace, abundant life, eternal triumph that nothing and no one can wrest from us. We should not resent the challenges and problems that are our lot. For it is but a training to enable us to race with horses and win.