By Donna Richard
Some trust in chariots, some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God!
Many years ago, one of my sons asked me, “If you had a spirit animal, what would it be?” I remember thinking I am not sure what a spirit animal is but my favorite animal is definitely a horse, a magnificent, galloping, mane-flowing horse! I loved the movies, “Black Beauty,” “My Friend Flicka” and especially “The Man from Snowy River!” All showed the beauty of horses!
Several years later, this same son asked, “What is your ‘happy place,’ the place you go to feel peace?” That was easy. Since I was a teenager, I have pictured this “place” as in heaven, a place with rolling hills with towering mountains in the background. A lush valley of bright green grass (tick- and bug-free of course) with a sparkling stream flowing, a deep azure sky with puffy white clouds and in the middle of this beautiful and peaceful valley, horses of every color prancing and grazing with foals frolicking happily around their mamas!
I never saw horses as work horses. I never imagined them as war horses. I saw them as pleasurable and beautiful. However, as I read in the Old Testament, two verses stand out to me:
“Some trust in chariots, some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” ~Psalm 20:7
“The war horse is a false hope for salvation; and by its great might it cannot rescue” ~ Psalm 33:17
Even though I have never seen a horse and chariot in action, I can’t forget the epic movie, “The Ten Commandments” when the horses drew the Egyptians closer and closer to the fleeing Israelites, and sadly, meeting their demise in the miracle of God’s protection of His people!
As I read through Psalm 33, it makes me consider in what or whom do we trust, especially when times are difficult, uncertain and even evil? I am encouraged again to be reminded of the One who we can trust in any battle or war! I don’t have to put my trust into people, governments, economics, leaders, or anyone else for my salvation or for making this world a better place. It is God and God alone that I trust! I am trusting in Him and His wisdom, His power in creation, His all-knowing of every situation and knowing i our hope and our valley of peace comes in Him! Rest in Him, dear sisters as I, too, need to be reminded of these truths because it is so easy to put my trust in the things of this world!
Psalm 33 ends with these verses:
“Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.
For our heart is glad in Him because we trust in His holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us
even as we hope in you.” verses 20-22
He is the One to put our trust in and in nothing else!! Battle on with His strength and might and then know we will someday be in that “happy place” full of peace eternally!!