As a girl growing up pre-technology, my favorite weekly activity occurred on Friday after receiving my allowance (if I had completed all my chores and had a good school report). My mom or dad would then drive me to Durango Music Store to peruse the list of top 20 songs and purchase a new 45 record to play on my turquoise record player. I remember one particular Friday when I was so anxious to get my hands on a precious copy of “Puppy Love” by Donny Osmond (Yes, I had a crush on him that may still exist today). I kept asking my Dad when we could leave, and he finally replied, “Hold your horses. We’ll go when it’s time.”
“Hold your horses.” Where did that phrase originate? I decided to research it and discovered it has had several intentions:
-During the noise of battle, a Roman soldier would hold his horse to keep it from being spooked.
-In army artillery units, soldiers waited until further orders.
-Scouts on wagon trains headed west used it as a signal of danger.
When we are barreling full steam ahead in our own agenda, dreams, and wishes, do you think God ever says “hold your horses” for us to pull in the reins? Or maybe he’s the one who has to do the restraining. Maybe he knows the path ahead holds some danger spots and it needs to clear before we can proceed. Maybe it’s not time to move forward. Or maybe we simply need to spend some time with him to grow our roots deeper so we don’t get spooked.
Are there people or situations you’ve prayed about for weeks, months, and years and you’re still waiting on an answer? Do you wish God would move and allow a new season, better job, or normalcy to return?
The meaning of the idiom “hold your horses” now is to:
-Wait.
-Be patient.
-Hold on.
-Stop getting ahead of yourself.
-Consider your actions.
-Take time to make the decision.
I reread the above meanings several times and wondered how differently would I react or live if I followed each connotation.
Wait. God is at work.
Be patient. This will end soon and you will understand.
Hold on. I’m preparing the path for you.
Stop getting ahead of yourself. You’re not ready for a new assignment.
Consider your actions. Are you doing what God is asking you to do?
Take time to make the decision. Maybe you need to re-evaluate and look at all of the options.
I don’t fully understand many things, but one thing I am always sure of is that God is good. Love is the motivation for everything he does. He can be trusted.
So hold your horses, and wait and see what God will do.
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” —Psalm 27:14
About Shelley Pulliam
Howdy! (A girl from Oklahoma has to use this as her greeting) I’m Shelley Pulliam, executive director of Arise Ministries and former teacher of hormone-filled 8th graders. But my real claim to fame rests in my award as second grade spelling bee champ and my recent gun-handling skills as I train to competition shoot. It helps me be on guard when Satan comes knocking. I’m a voracious reader and can frequently be found at the theater enjoying movie marathons where my record stands at six in one day. I’m a single, never married, who loves to pour into children at every opportunity. Let me know if you have any for sale. You can connect with me on social media. https://www.instagram.com/shelleypulliam/