Hope in the context of the Bible is not the same as hope in the context of our current culture. Our culture often uses hope as wishful thinking, “I hope so….” Biblical hope, on the other hand, is an assurance of a promise that will come to pass!

Down at the Stables, we have another “Hope” I’d like you to get to know. A large, beautiful, gentle giant of a draft horse named Hope. As an equine partner in our ministry, one of her main tasks is to be part of our therapeutic vaulting classes.

Kristine, an Adaptive Rider with MS, said this about Hope. “Hope gives me confidence and courage. She is always eager and ready each week for me to ride her. She gives me the “Hope” I need each week to face each day with courage. She is amazing!”

From energetic youngsters to disabled adults, Hope does her job with strength and grace. She makes it look easy and her riders know they can count on her. They don’t have to “hope so,” they know so! We get to see folks go from feeling small and vulnerable next to her large frame to gaining confidence and trusting her enough to do amazing maneuvers on her back while she is on the move.

Samara, a senior lunger shared, “Hope has given me confidence and taught me how to be a better lunger and rider. She is continuing to teach me about trust as I trust that she is a stable platform while someone is vaulting on her back. Hope continues to teach me about being confident in what I know without second-guessing myself. God is teaching me through Hope that it’s okay to set boundaries and trust that everything will be okay, that I am accepted, and that being different is okay.”

You and I can just as surely hope in God to get us through. After all, He doesn’t want us to just survive struggles and situations, but to thrive and be able to live amazingly victorious and fulfilling lives to His glory!

“But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.” – Psalm 71:14

-Carrie Paulson, Development and Volunteer Coordinator
Warm Beach Horsemanship