Out Our Way: Be not afraid

Isaiah 43:1-4

Out our way, horses are not just for pleasure riding but also for working cattle. Now, I bought a beautiful sorrel Paint I named Babe, who was well-trained and smooth as silk under saddle. Unfortunately, she was terrified of cows. 

I have shared before the incident with the "Will Smith Calf," but let me hit the highlights in case you missed it.  

I took Babe out with Charlie to work some cows in the hopes of helping her overcome her fears. There was a feeder on a hill that had several calves and mamas lying nearby - so I decided to try to approach this pastoral scene slowly but deliberately in the hopes Babe would get used to cattle and not be so afraid. At first it seemed to work and we walked slowly but deliberately up the ridge while I spoke soothingly to Babe to help keep her calm.

Everything was working until Charlie rode up on Jet and called out "Watch out for that horse-eating calf!" Babe's ears perked up and there on our right flank stood a slack jawed calf with ears straight out looking like a caricature of Will Smith.  Babe was not amused and began having a major panic attack.

Charlie yelled, " Sorry about that - I didn't know she understood English!" 

Naturally, to control and calm her down, I began to circle her with a tight rein, and it must have taken five to 10 cycles to get her settled down once the calf took off. (He was more scared than Babe!) The soothing voice and the clearly in control rider calmed her at last and we continued our ride - but I made sure she knew I was there and in command of the situation every time we came across any other cattle or "Will Smith" calves.  

Babe will probably never make a decent cow pony like Doc, but she stopped being afraid of every calf and mama we came across because she knew I was with her.

Isaiah speaks of a similar sense of security for God's servants: Thus says the Lord, " Be not afraid, I have redeemed you!"

Who among us does not face trials, both the real deal tribulations and the "Will Smith calves?" In either case the panic, fear and anxiety are real. Yet, thus says the Lord "Be not afraid." Isaiah and the people of Israel dealt with both - and despite all the trials and sorrows they had to endure, Israel remains. What nation or culture has endured as long or suffered as much and yet, remains, "bloody, but unbowed?" Where is Egypt? Where is Babylon? Where is the Ottoman Empire, or the Mongols, the Third Reich or the Soviet Union? And where is Israel? Right back where God put her in the beginning despite being surrounded by enemies, terrorism, and rising anti-semitism once again in the media and universities and pop culture. Yet, as Isaiah declared, "Thus says the Lord - be not afraid." And Israel remains.

Has it occurred to you that the Lord is also saying that to you? No, you don't have hate speech and Hollywood celebrities calling for your destruction - but you still have other trials that cut deep and sorrows that bleed, and scars that do not heal. 

I am not a prophet - and I never know what these columns will be when I sit down to write them, but I have come to think, rightly or wrongly, that what I write is not so much my words as me taking dictation. And thus here is the word of the Lord as I hear it: In your darkest times - "Be not afraid!"

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Brother John

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The Rev. John Bruington is the retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Havre. He now lives in Colorado, but continues to write "Out Our Way." He can be reached for comment or dialogue at [email protected].