When I was 16 years old, my twin sister Kaysie and I went horse camping in Utah. As we were heading out, my dad suggested we take a shotgun with us, just in case. We didn’t know then how important that advice would become. When we arrived at the road leading to our campsite, a truck was blocking the way. After we yelled for a while, a man came out and moved his truck so we could pass. Later that night, Kaysie and I went to bed early because we were supposed to wake up at 4 am, saddle our horses, and ride to another camp to help Jack deliver salt to the cattle.
Around 2 am, our dog started barking. The man who had moved his truck earlier had returned. He was extremely drunk and was yelling vulgar things at us, rattling the camper door and shaking the truck, trying to get us to come outside. He didn’t know it, but I had already gotten the shotgun. Finally, I yelled at him to get off our grandfather’s property. Thankfully, he eventually left and never came back. Kaysie and I were scared, but we decided we weren’t going to leave. This was our grandfather’s property, and we were determined to stay. Looking back on that frightening night, I’m so thankful we were protected. God was with us, and He gave us the strength and courage we needed.
Maybe you’re going through a difficult season right now. Hopefully, your situation isn’t quite as dramatic as the one I experienced at 16! But whatever you’re facing, I want to remind you that you don’t have to face it alone. God is your strength and your protector. As Psalm 118 reminds you, the Lord is with you. When life feels scary, uncertain, or overwhelming, remember where your strength comes from.
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“They swarmed around me like bees; they blazed against me like a crackling fire. But I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord. My enemies did their best to kill me, but the Lord rescued me. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly. The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things! The strong right arm of the Lord is raised in triumph. The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!” (Psalm 118:12-16)
It’s summer! Are you ready for some cool water? How about Jesus’ cool living water? Welcome back to the Hope & Horses Bible Study Devotions series. I filmed this video at Silver Creek Falls river. The water was cool and refreshing, just like Jesus.
There are two Bible verses I want to encourage you with. The first is from John 4:14. Jesus says, “But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The second is from John 7:37-38. “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.'”
I hope you will find some Living Water, too. That Living Water is Jesus! Click below to watch and learn more.
If you’ve been following along with me lately, you know I’ve been talking about the importance of identifying your guiding values. When I completed the exercise myself, my number one value was love. It wasn’t a surprise because I’ve always found myself drawn to Bible verses that remind me of God’s incredible love and His call to love one another.
Today, I want to share one of my favorites from 1 John 4:7-8, which reminds you that love comes from God and that God is love. Every act of kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and encouragement reflects His heart. Let God’s love fill your heart so completely that it naturally overflows into the lives of the people around you. When you choose to love like He loves you, you become a beautiful reflection of His presence in the world.
“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8)
Have you ever had to live through an overwhelming situation? Are you in one right now? Lately, I have been feeling very overwhelmed myself. We discovered that our ice maker pipe was leaking, which has put us right in the middle of a kitchen remodel, all while we are also trying to get hay in for all of the animals for winter. It has felt like a lot all at once.
In the middle of it, I found myself turning to Psalm 61:1-4, which is such a beautiful reminder to cry out to God when your heart is overwhelmed and to let Him lead you to the rock. It also made me think of the “Footprints in the Sand” story, where during the hardest moments, it was Jesus carrying you. If you are walking through an overwhelming season right now, I want to encourage you to take refuge in Him. You do not have to carry it all alone. He’s got you, and He will carry you through. Click below to watch and learn more.
1 O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! 2 From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, 3 for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. 4 Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings!
Have you ever had a Bible verse speak to you exactly when you needed it most? John 3:16 is one of my favorite scriptures to return to, especially during difficult or discouraging seasons. This simple but powerful verse shares the heart of Christian faith: God’s deep love for you, the sacrifice of Jesus, and the promise of eternal life through belief in Him.
When life feels heavy, gloomy, or uncertain, this verse brings comfort, hope, and peace. In this week’s Horses & Hope devotion, I wanted to share why this scripture means so much to me. Don’t forget you are deeply loved by God. I want you to experience that hope, believe in Him, and know the promise of eternal life.
Have you ever wished you could just pick up the phone and call someone when life feels overwhelming? Guess what? You can! In this week’s Horses & Hope devotion, I have a powerful reminder that God is always available, listening, and only a prayer away. When you’re feeling anxious, stuck, or searching for answers, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Talking to God doesn’t have to be complicated or perfect. You can do it anytime, anywhere. Here’s your invitation to pause, breathe, and remember that you always have a direct line to peace, comfort, and guidance.
