Harnessing with Bit and Bridle

My curiosity peaked, as I sat patiently waiting to hear the intriguing story behind why MY husband - the most laid back of all the Kirk boys - would be the one that had to be “leashed” at times as a child. Upon hearing my in-laws reasoning, I understood completely.

It seems that when Steve was a little tyke – around three years old – he had the notion that he could stop a car moving at 60mph with his bare hands! To him, it was just common sense. To his parents, it was horrifying.

So at times for safety reasons, Steve’s mother would tether or “leash” her son to herself for his safety and for the safety of oncoming traffic. She would do so, until she was able to effectively communicate to his understanding that an oncoming car could not be hindered by a little boy with an outstretched hand, unable to even be seen over the fender.

I’m sure there were times that “little Steve” pulled against the tether. I’m sure there were times that he didn’t understand his being led away from the oncoming traffic. After all, his hand was magical and that car needed to be stopped, right? I’m sure there were also times he didn’t understand why he was being led in “that way” or why it was so uncomfortable in the process, but that’s okay. His mom knew best.

His best hope was to comply…to be led, instead of pulling against the tether. His best hope was to trust his mom, and in doing so, arrive home safely from a day out-and-about.

I thought about Steve’s “tethering” as I read these verses: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go: I will guide you with My eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bride. Else they will not come near you,” (Ps. 32:8-9).

For the longest time, I was only familiar with verse 8. You know, the one about how the Lord will teach us and guide us with His eye. I’m all for that! Yet, somehow for all these years, I missed the next part - the part about how God must forcibly draw us near to instruct us when in our arrogance and pride, we choose to refuse His wisdom and knowledge. In other words, God tethers us to protect us from ourselves, just as Steve’s mom tethered him.

As a good Father, He can’t just let us run wild. God can’t just let us run into oncoming traffic with our left hand on our hip and our right palm extended, screaming, “STOP!” If He did, He would cease to be a good Father. So when we won’t listen, when we won’t choose to set aside time to hear from Him through His Word, when we won’t trust what He says is right even though it doesn’t make sense to us, when we won’t let Him teach, then He must “tether.” He must gently, but forcibly pull us in the right direction, sometimes in uncomfortable way for our own safety.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve come to the place in my life that I’d like to be tethered with bit and bridle less and free to follow more! That, my friends, involves choosing to be intentional about listening for His voice, every minute of every day not just in the assigned “quiet time.” It involves laying down plans that are incongruent with His. It involves feasting on His Word…not fasting from it. It involves early mornings, late nights, open ears and a submissive attitude towards the Father’s heart and His desires. It involves actively listening and learning from what is heard and trusting that the One who is teaching, knows best.

I’m ready…how about you?

“Father, thank You that You gently bring me back…that You pull tight the tether when I choose to be headstrong and go my own way. Thank You for Your discipline, which just goes to prove that I am Your child and that You, as my Father, love me. I love You, too.”