And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:12-13
Sometimes, I allow some spontaneity in my life. That is how I found myself in the back of an old white van bumping down a dirt road through the Red River Canyons near Cody, Wyoming. Despite other things on my schedule, I jumped at a chance to see the wild mustangs in their native environment. Our tour guide claimed he visited them every day and that they knew him. Even though the herds roamed over several thousand acres, he knew where they would be. Off we went, twisting and turning over federally owned lands in search of the wild mustangs. The first herd we spotted looked like little specks on the horizon grazing very far away from the road. Disappointed, I presumed we wasted our time and a lot of money. Then, we came upon another group led by a stallion named Lakota. This time, we ventured out of the van and walked about a mile to get within a half mile of several dozen mustangs. Though we could not get as close as I would have liked, with the zoom on my camera, I could see details quite clearly. As we listened to stories of this particular herd and a second one nearby, my excitement grew. I could have stayed there all day watching them. Soon, however, it was time to go. Our guide offered to drive us down to see the canyon. While we stood on a cliff overlooking the dusty, dry landscape, the wind carried the sound of a horse’s whinny our way. We hurried into the van and took off again over peaks and down valleys in the direction of the call. While our guide said he could see the herd in the distance, they were invisible to me. Each time we rose up over a hill, I tried in vain to see them, but I could not. All I had to go on was the guide’s assurance that they were there. Then, we turned a corner and there they were. Several dozen beautiful horses, even babies, all clustered on the road. Within arms reach of us, they looked like they were expecting our arrival. This time, I did not need a zoom. We watched with delight at their antics as they played and roughhoused together. When time came, I was the last one back on the van and as they disappeared from view, joy filled my heart. As we go through our lives here on this earth, some things may not go as we originally planned. Yet, we always have hope because we know that there is more ahead than we can see from our current perspective. Someday, Christ is coming again, perhaps just over the next hill. Trust in Him. He will give you peace and joy, and an overflowing hope by the power of His Holy Spirit. When you are willing to set aside your own agenda and be spontaneous, don’t be surprised when He sends an extra special blessing your way.
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