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