"Bucked Off"

One foot in the stirrup,

The other one blew out,

And I’m in for a lesson,

A wild bronc ride no doubt.

I’m clawin’ hard for leather,

I’m needin’ a night latch,

When I stepped on this pony,

I thought that I could match,

Whatever he got started,

I thought that I could end,

But that was way beforehand,

He made all this begin.

And now I am a flailin’,

I just lost my hat,

He’s twistin’ up in midair,

As quickly as a cat.

I looked way down below me,

Far down on the ground,

A cloud it just whisked by me,

I cannot hear a sound.

But equine grunt and groanin’,

He’s sheddin’ this old load,

Just a fresh, young pony,

That I almost rode.

But almost ain’t for nothin’,

When you hit the ground,

With of all your bronc-riding skills,

Just scattered all around.

Don’t think it’s that funny,

But to some folks it is,

That ground only gets harder,

The older gets your biz.

And when I do feel better,

I’m sure I’ll step back on,

But let me rest here for a minute,

Till my worst pain is gone.

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials…” (1 Peter 1:6, NLT)

Trials. Who likes ‘em? None of us, I’d say. Life bucks everybody off, and sometimes we’re just too wounded to step back on right away. But for the believer in Jesus, nothing is wasted, not even our worst experiences. Why? Because God promises to use them all, and move us toward the wonderful joy He has planned for us. The trials test our faith, as fire tests and purifies gold. It refines us so that in time we learn that nothing can stop us. We will endure and overcome because He who is in us is greater that everything we’re trying to weather. The poem is about a horseback storm, but only an illustration for whatever storm you’re going through. Keep going! God will have His way and you will be stronger.

Lord, teach us what we need to know the most and strengthen our faith, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Tim Cox, timcox.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Tim, and God bless you.