Taming the Horse

Horses are wild and unruly creatures until they are tamed through an arduous process of training. Their laborious taming is accomplished through a combination of tools and commands. The tools used by the trainer are equipment including bits, reigns, saddles, and the like. The tools exist to train the horse into a certain level of control. The commands used by the trainer are both verbal and physical. The commands exist to train the horse to fulfill a specific purpose and to go a certain direction.

The trainer has a thorough, effective plan which implements both tools and commands to achieve the desired control and purpose in the horse. There are times the obstinate horse simply can’t stand the plan, as well thought out as it is. The horse has another plan of its own that it undyingly prefers. A rather foolish plan to run wild and free. The trainer offers a time and place for this, but to endlessly remain there would be quite frivolous. What’s the point of freedom if there’s no greater purpose to take part in?

I viscerally relate to this horse-taming process. Much like a wild horse, I am an adventurous explorer at heart. For the most part this is a beautiful thing, but given no boundaries it becomes a dangerous thing. Like any wild horse I am equally stubborn as I am majestic. The result is “living wild and free” translating to trying anything and everything that attracts me. Sounds like a good enough plan. Except, it’s not at all. Someone must train me to go a better way. A way of perfect purpose and control.

God is the perfect trainer taming the reckless horse in me. Just like any horse trainer, He uses both tools and commands to create His desired change in you and me. Instead of saddles or reigns, the tools He chose for me are a wheelchair and a thing called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Keep in mind, the tools the Lord provides are unique for every man. On the other hand, the commands the Lord provides are universal to every man. His proverbial verbal commands are found in His unfailing Word. His physical commands come in the form of the faithful guidance of Christian brothers and sisters.

At first glance my personal training tools may seem cruel, but soon you’ll see that they have actually proved quite necessary. I am convinced, nigh certain that, I require such a significant amount of taming that the Lord had no better option than to employ such severe means. “Really?!”, you ask. Yes, really! Would you be surprised to hear that I naturally think more highly of myself than I ought to? As far as I’m concerned, muscular dystrophy removed, I’d be the coolest, funniest, smartest, most passionate, most attractive guy in any room. Understand I’m not exaggerating, so prideful is this heart on its own.

Were this the immediate version of me, would I easily see my essential Savior need? Not only that, would I have a consistent, true regard for the wisdom of restraint whatever the scenario may be? Would I without such obvious, desperate need have real, selfless compassion for the fellow needy? I would have to argue no to all of these. Not absolutely, at the least. Perhaps I’d have become aware of these gospel realities by some other means, but not as fully as He meant for me. Only God holds the answer to that mystery. And who am I to disagree with how things are and apparently must be?

I am no one worthy of that way of thinking. And neither are you. The Lord alone has the sovereign authority to deem what is necessary. I trust that DMD was just the inerrant catalyst He required to best break me. To teach me to know that life is not about me. My life is about serving God and revealing His character to the world. The same goes for you. We exist for His glory, and rightfully so. He is our Creator and has the right to shape us as He accepts us into His fold.

The glory of the Lord is immeasurably greater than the glory of any created thing. Greater than the horse. Greater than His image-bearers, man. “He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.” (Psalm ‭147:10‬) The powers and talents of creation are worthless without Him. They are of no use until they are brought under submission. So He takes us, He breaks us, He tames us and remakes us.

In my case, my charisma was partially crushed so I wouldn’t misuse it, so I wouldn’t abuse it, and so I wouldn’t be destroyed by it. That’s not to say that the tools won’t someday soon be removed; but if I had more physical freedom I believe I would have gone the way of Solomon, testing the limits of money, power, fame, and sexuality. Leaving destruction in my wake. Feeling like life had been a waste. By God’s wisdom and grace He protected me from needless pain and certain disgrace. Though painful life’s still been, I’m grateful it has mostly remained within.

I think to Hebrews 12:5-6, “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” When most read this they assume that every rebuke or chastening is a punishment. Occasionally that’s the case, yet we find there’s more to these words in the original text being quoted, Proverbs 3:11-12, “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction; For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.” After reading this, it should become our understanding that the term chasten merely means to correct.

I am comforted to remember that my disease does not exist because of me. It exists for me! So I refuse to despise when I am chastened. I choose to never be discouraged when I’m rebuked. I know the Lord loves whom He corrects, so I welcome His correction. I also understand not every correction is a punishment, even when they may come as hard-taught, hard-won lessons. It’s true that “no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews‬ ‭12:11‬)

As I pursue God’s path of submission I’m also reminded of Proverbs 15:31, “The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise.” From this verse we learn that those who seek wisdom listen carefully to correction. However it may come. The wise comprehend the concept that the precious instruction of heartache produces powerful perseverance. Perseverance that produces Christ-like character.

Much of the plan of submission is a means of instilling the specific character trait of meekness found in Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.” I love Colin Smith’s definition of the meekness described here. He says, “Meekness is strength brought under control through submission.” Is that not the perfect description of a fully tamed horse? And isn’t it true that a poised and powerful horse, trained in its ways, is one of the most beautiful things in nature?

When we are made meek we are made to resemble the same magnificence as the mighty and mild-mannered horse. Who wouldn’t want to experience and enjoy such an outcome? I certainly want to. In turn, I desire that the Lord would continue His work of taming the horse in me unto completion. May the ultimate result be the walking out of Philippians 2:3-4, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”