It’s Time to Rise

“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering

produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put

us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,

who has been given to us” - Romans 5:3-5

“Hey, you need to come down to the arena. Gabriel is down again.”

I hastily scrambled out of my sleeping bag, throwing my phone down and shoving my

feet into my muck boots. Shaking the grogginess I felt after a long night of feeding, I quickly

made my way over the round pen where Gabriel lay.

A beautiful gelding once upon a time, Gabriel now sat curled in the sand, his bones

jutting out from his skin and his head drooping in exhaustion. He had laid down to get much

needed rest, but now his muscles were too weak to be able to stand back up. It was our job and

responsibility to help him, a task not so easy.

“Here,” Carissa said, handing me the towing ropes. Quickly and efficiently we wrapped

them under and around Gabriel’s middle, straining as we attempted to pull him back up. He

tried, scrabbling at the sand with his front hooves, but it was apparent he was too weak. After

many failed attempts, he flopped back into the sand. He was giving up.

As Carissa left to make some calls to get more help, I sank down to my knees next to

Gabriel’s head. His eyes were closed, his breath labored. Leaning forward, I rested my hand on

his nose, feeling as if my heart would break. How could someone let this beautiful, gentle horse

suffer so? He had a spark in him that was apparent from when we brought him here; I could see

it, we all could. He had stolen our hearts the moment we had laid eyes on him. And while that

spark still remained, it was growing dim. He was tired, and he was losing the fight.

“You’re not allowed to die. You’re not allowed to give up,” I told him firmly. He lifted his

head just a little, his eyes meeting mine. I leaned forward and stared down at him, putting as

much determination into my words as I could muster. “You are going to be ok. You’re going to be

happy, and strong, and you’re going to run through those pastures and be free again. You’re

going to make so many others happy. You’re going to preserve, and push through the suffering.

You’re not going to give up.”

And he didn’t give up.

So why tell this story? Why think back on this difficult time of an animal suffering, and

reflect on what it means? How can we learn from Gabriel, our amazing, sweet, beautiful gelding,

who went on to live strong? Well, it’s simple: When God tells us to rise, we rise. Gabriel was

weak, and had all the reason to give up. His body was beaten and stretched to its limits, he had

been neglected and starved, and he was suffering from heaves and other medical ailments. He

was at his lowest point. Haven’t we all been there at once? A time where we feel mentally,

emotionally, or physically beaten?

James 1:2-4 states: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face

trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let

perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

God does not promise us a life of ease or comfort; in fact, many of our lives are spent in the valleys, battling everything that the enemy sends our way. And yet, He promises us that if we

lean into Him, and fight through the suffering, that we will grow stronger. It gives us hope. And

hope is what gives us the desire to continue the fight. God is always there, right by our side,

telling us not to give up.

This experience, while difficult to see, was absolutely one I will never forget. It was a

physical embodiment of how through life’s difficulties, God has a greater purpose and a plan. He

knows every single hair on my head, what I’m going to do today, tomorrow and the next. He has

a plan set aside just for me, and for all of us; a plan that is built to honor Him and spread His

ministry. So don’t give up. Gabriel didn’t, and I got to watch him months later gallop free into his

new pasture, strong and confident. He too had a greater purpose, and he chose to fight through.

When the next trials come, I think of that moment often, watching him joyfully toss his head and

leap into the air. If God can bring up a horse out of his suffering and save his life, who’s to say

He can’t do the same for all of us?

When God calls us to rise, it’s time to rise. For our Father and Creator knows our next

steps, and He calls us to persevere. No matter what you may be going through, take heart: for

He has overcome the world!

-Written by Ashlyn Henley, Volunteer

After two months of painstaking rehabilitation, Gabriel is now joining our Session herd as a happy, healthy partner to walk alongside children who are learning what he already knows- redemption is coming. It's coming soon.