Meet Silas – my partner in adventure. Through Silas, I have learned so many things. For instance, the gift of the present and enjoying what I have, even when it’s not what I had hoped for. He is a gift from God at a time when I had said goodbye to my heart horse Gideon and needed a horse, and this horse needed a mom. God knew what he was doing. 

Story Time 

Now that you’ve met Silas, let me share a quick story. Silas has back issues – specifically SI or sacroiliac joint issues. It started the weekend I found out I was pregnant with my second kid. Before that bomb was dropped on Sunday evening, Silas and I were showing in Richmond Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning. It was our best show ever and it’s the only time I’ve won money at a horse show! …and I pushed him to do more than his body was ready for. He’s not been the same since.

Here’s a picture from the show. It’s my most favorite photo ever taken of us. I realize it’s got the photographers watermarks on it. When I finally went back to purchase it, I couldn’t find his site anymore. (If you can find it for me, I will GLADLY pay for this photo.)

A few weeks later Silas started acting uncomfortable and was soon diagnosed with SI issues. We dove in with therapies, injections, long warm up rides, and still – two years down the road I sat on his back in tears. My Thoroughbred who had previously tried to buck me off when I wouldn’t let him run, took every piece of convincing to just trot in an open field.

I pleaded with God for answers. Should I retire him? Should I give up? Would God heal him?

We meandered to the barn in a cloud of despair where my farrier, Thomas, happened to be. Thomas is a wealth of knowledge, and encouraged me to book an appointment with an equine osteopath for Silas. The osteopath was a miracle worker, and when she left Silas was holding his head a foot higher with bright eyes. Another vet taught me the old school “horseman” solution to SI issues which is moving incredibly slow to get him fit.

I began the arduous process of getting Silas in shape one walk ride at a time. It took a couple years, but we finally were almost back in business. I started working with a trainer who taught me to ride in a way that strengthened Silas’s back. That was the final piece to the puzzle. Within a few months we were jumping and adventuring again. Here we are at a fox hunt with my friend Caitlin! 

In the down years with Silas, I learned to be grateful for the opportunity to just be with him. To appreciate a walk ride when previously, my competive spirit was frustrated if I wasn’t being challenged. In the up years I’ve learned to cherish every single jump and every single adventure – as big or small as it may seem.

The Big Question

What would you give credit to for his healing? Was it my determination to not give up? Was it the osteopath? How about the farrier’s advice? Or was it the trainer? 

Did you catch the line that happened before all those things? I pleaded with God. In other words, I prayed. 

How often do you pray over something, then it comes together, and you go on your merry way? I know the answer for me is all the time. It’s shocking and disappointing the number of times God answers our prayer and we don’t even notice.

It would be easy to give Thomas credit, or either of the vets, my determination, or the trainer. And I’m going to get real for a second. Some people, without realizing they are taking the credit from God, would say the prayer worked. The prayer in itself did not do the work. A prayer is a muttering or crying or speaking or screaming or whispering of words from a human. The One who hears prayer and answers prayer – that is who worked.

What Powers the Light Bulb?

Imagine this: Will a light bulb turn on when you flip the switch? You may be quick to say yes, but think of this – only if it’s hooked up to a source of power. The switch is our prayer, the light is the answer, (both of which are important) but God is the electricity – the power behind it all. 

God powered the series of events – several events – that needed to come together to strengthen and heal Silas.

I need to take a break from where I’m going to face the little voice that may be popping in your head right now. Mine is saying, If God is so powerful and cares so much, why did he let my friend die? I prayed for healing, not death.  And the truth is, I don’t know. I don’t know why God answers some prayers one way and some another. I know our world is broken and there will be pain and hurt. I know when a Christian dies, there is healing and restoration in Heaven, but on our side of Heaven it hurts.

But, I also know that God is soveriegn and he is good. He promises in Romans 8:28 to work everything for our good when we love him. I talked about this in my post about truth and the stories we tell ourselves

What you seek, you will find

I know when I seek pain, it’s easy to find. But when we seek proof of God’s goodness it surrounds us and fills us. Every breathe is proof of God’s goodness. Every sunset. Every smile. Every bite of food. The trees stretching their winter bare branches to the sky. The dog snoring on the end of my couch and the feel of his soft fur. When Silas drops his head for his halter. When the five year old sneaks into my bed and snuggles against me. Y’all, God is SO good.

And God shows his goodness when he answers our prayers. The answer may not come in the way we expect. Wouldn’t it have been easier for me to show up at the barn the day after I prayed to a healed horse? But I’m grateful for God’s way. It teaches us and molds us into the person God is calling us to become. It affirms his goodness.

When we pray, let us keep our eyes open for the way God will answer. Then let’s give him the credit.