Here in Puerto Rico it is normal to see stray horses walking the roads. However, seeing them run down the Interstate is not something you see often. Recently, my husband and I saw just that - two big horses running scared with their small foal. They were running on the side of the highway in the same direction as the four lanes of traffic we were on. A construction worker was waving a flag at them, trying to scare them back into the grass, away from traffic, but there was no safe place for them to go for at least half a mile. All we could do was pray that they wouldn't head into traffic and cause an accident.
I imagine these horses were either tied to some trees in a nearby field, or kept in a stall, but the monotony of their unchanging circumstances drove them to break free in hopes of finding something better. That sounds very familiar to me! How many have found the dullness of circumstances (pain of trials, etc.) driving them to break free and run ahead of God into something new? One can get weary of waiting for the promises to come to pass, and instead of shaking off the frustration, exchange the safety of one place for the danger of another. Sometimes it feels like ANYTHING would be better than our current situation! However, becoming exposed to the freedom we have longed for must come in God's timing, not ours, or we will find ourself running scared and though someone may wave warning flags in our face, not knowing what to do or where to go. Suddenly, the safety of monotony becomes desirable.
This reminds me of Isaiah 30:15-16, "For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.' 'But you would not, And said, 'No, for we will flee on horses' -Therefore you shall flee!"
It's always the point just before the breakthrough that feels the hardest. It's then that so many have done their own thing and decided that because God didn't do what they expected Him to do, when they expected Him to do it, that He must have forgotten. But it is in the place of quietness and confidence, or we could say, relaxing and continuing to trust Him, that we find strength to continue. Let's look at what verse 18 of Isaiah 30 says, "Therefore the Lord will wait, that He maybe gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him."
Today if you have been feeling discouraged by what seems to be a delay in your answered prayer, take a deep breath, release your care once again, and remember that God has it under control. Breaking free from your situation before God releases you, may be just as dangerous as those scared horses on the highway, longing for the safety of home. Though we often do not understand God's timing, we must trust in His love for us above all else.
I pray today that you will find yourself drenched in the tangible goodness of God, where you can rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory as you wait. (see 1 Peter 1:8) In His presence is fulness of joy! (see Psalm 16:11)