The Trainer

They were beautiful, but wild and seemingly untamable. These horses of mine
galloped across the white sands, surging at times into the foaming sea. A
jet black mane and a tail that looked like wispy smoke trailed behind my
stallion, Fear. He wasn’t always unruly, but when that glint appeared in
his coal black eyes, I knew it would be near impossible to catch him.

Passion pawed at the waves with a shining hoof, whinnying in delight as the
salty spray hit her white face. The water glistened on her coat bright as a
freshly polished pearl. Passion could be so fulfilling at times, but there
were other occasions when she could not be reined in.

I reached up to stroke Sorrow on her soft, gray muzzle. Her dappled coat
swirled like drops of rain in a cloudy sky. Joy, her sister, was seldom
separate from Sorrow. Joy’s golden back was warm to my touch in the sun,
and she nickered softly when I spoke to her.

Rage thundered by, tossing his red mane. His eyes were rolling and wide.
There were times when he scared me most of all, when I didn’t know if I
could ever control him. I knew in my heart that I could not keep my horses
in check on my own. Thankfully, I was not alone.

The Trainer wrapped His arms of love around Fear, calming him. When Passion
was eager to gallop and explore, the Trainer taught her how to navigate all
kinds of terrain with wisdom and discernment. Joy and Sorrow were never so
beautiful as when they were walking close by the Trainer. They were
intertwined in this inexpressible dance that made me want to laugh and cry
all at once. The Trainer was never afraid of Rage as I was; He held him in
gentleness and strength.

As the setting sun glinted off the waves, I knew in the depths of my soul
that I was not alone. The Trainer was near. I would hold His promise of
peace close, knowing He would guard my horses. With the help of the
Trainer, I could do what He called me to do with the strength that He gave.
Savannah Coleman

In this story, the horses represent our emotions, which are tamed by God
the Trainer. We all have times when our thoughts and feelings seem
unmanageable. God gave us emotions, but sometimes they can overwhelm us and
threaten to control our actions. When do you find it difficult to handle
your thoughts and feelings?

As children of God, we can rely on His help. Once we’ve put our trust in
Jesus, He transforms our minds through the renewing power of His Word and
His Spirit. He promises that He will be near us; we have His strength in
all situations. How might it give you hope to know that you never have to
face your emotions alone?

As we grow in our relationship with Jesus, He helps us to better
understand and deal with our emotions (Matthew 11:29). When fear, sorrow,
or rage threaten to consume us, we can choose to give our anxieties over to
God by telling Him about what we’re experiencing and asking for His help.
What emotion(s) are you feeling right now? Consider taking a moment to talk
to God about what you’re experiencing.

Sometimes, our thoughts can be troubling. God invites us to focus on
things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and
praiseworthy (Philippians 4:6-8). (If you can’t think of anything that fits
these descriptions, try thinking about God Himself, because He is all these
things! Jesus reveals God the Father,
so reading about His life in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John is a great way to
find out what God is like.) God promises that His peace will guard our
hearts and minds as we come to Him (verses 7, 9).

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your emotions, it’s okay to talk about
this. Who is a trusted Christian in your life who could listen to you, pray
with you, and encourage you? If you need someone to talk to, you can set up
an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a
Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In
the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00
p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your
appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
(Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my
portion forever. Psalm 73:26 (NIV)

Read Verses:

Psalm 139:23-Psalm 139:24; Romans 12:1-Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:4-Philippians 4:13; Psalm 73:26