Holding On

I’m holding on to what God will do in 2022.

With my boots on, I walked into the New Year, with my heart racing, through the dust and up the the ramp onto the dead center of a 20,000 seated arena and stomped my heels right on top of a rotating beast. Surrounded by gritty Cowboys in fringe chaps and wild bulls, and an anticipating sea of PBR fans, production crew, cameras, lights and pyro in every angle. With my eyes towards the light, my hands towards heaven, The US flag lit up red, white and blue across the stadium and as every Cowboy bent a knee we entered in with a reverent prayer to the King. My heart filled with confidence as I humbly raised the mic in my hand to sing with such great privilege, the National Anthem.

Last week I thought I would be in California for an event, which fell through. And in this wow moment I looked around and couldn’t help but grin, seeing how, there are never disappointments when we are yielded to wherever Gods spirit may lead us.

I have been trying to just process this weekend and all that it has revealed and taught me, so I could hopefully share some encouragement with you.

Bull riding requires immense mental strength and willpower. Once they are on that bull they cannot afford to look around to the left or to the right. They have a strong will to win and no room for distraction. As soon as the rider gives his nod and the gate holding that 1,800 pound angry bucking bull flings wide open there is nothing but sheer adrenaline, concentration, tight grip and great balance between a championship or crushed bones. The reality of the dangers require intense focus and skill from these determined athletes that have to be developed to win what only seems like a short 8 second moment. Their mind and bodies have to be focused on the here and now, they are either all in or all out, they are going to stay up or they are going down.

The cowboy rides with one hand gripping the rope for dear life, while his other arm is raised in the air. The bull just wants that cowboy off his back, so he wildly kicks, jumps and twists in order to fling off the rider. It must seem like an eternity for them until the buzzer sounds 8 seconds later.

Life can be a lot like bull riding in some ways. You think that you are ready for it, you can handle anything, but then suddenly, it begins twisting like crazy, challenges and circumstances arise and you can’t expect which way life or the bull will go. If the bull’s going left and you go right, it’s going to hurt. You have to be so yielded to the direction of the bull and committed to the ride. Desperate and determined to stay on, but never knowing how much longer you can. 8 seconds can feel like an eternity. So often we are in the greatest battles of our life and it feels like we are not going to make it. Life can feel like it’s trying to toss you into the dust. Good News and a sure thing is that the buzzer, that trumpet will soon enough sound and the ride will always end. And if you hold on, you win! Holding on to your faith through the fight is what makes us strong. God will always honor our faith by giving us the grace to grow and wisdom and balance to endure. When we go in hard pursuit of our passion and purpose, we no longer have to be afraid of failure or temporary pain but more so eternal defeat!

Watching these guys ride was so intense! I was screaming and getting emotional at the same time. I was so inspired by the riders who had just made a comeback from major injuries, like dislocated jaws, broken necks, broken torso etc… Some not even fully recovered yet were willing to get back on! Some riders gave it all they had and only stayed on a couple seconds, All I could think of was the guts it took to even get on and the grit it will take to try again!

Failure hurts. To surpass failure requires humility. This was my lesson… even as I sung the National Anthem, I walked up the aisles and heard countless compliments, affirmation and kind words afterwards, yet I still criticized every note and all of the parts that were weak and flawed. I felt that I missed the mark, that I had failed. In my opinion I didn’t make it till 8. I was disappointed that I didn’t sing the way I practiced and imagined and thought of these riders who might have been feeling the same way. The truth is, these riders showed up and were still strapping their hand to that bull! I was still standing in that arena with guts. I was still standing in the midst of 20,000 people hosting the very presence of God in me! I was standing on a sign that said unleash the beast as I knew in my spirit that I was there to unleash the breathe of God! I realized every rider willing to sit waiting behind that gate to open is a true fighter, a real cowboy! I am inspired to keep taking the opportunities that can only make me stronger and I am determined to get back in and win next time! While trusting that my availability and willingness alone still pleases the Lord every time! Striving for excellence not perfection. Everything in life is a test, an opportunity to do well, to do better and to do our best! We keep getting back up, trying, training, determined to be better, so we can win! It never gets easier, you just get stronger. Every champion is born through adversity. Never stop learning. Every failure leads us to success. There is a lesson in every loss. There is no giving up if we want to win. Keep going, Keep Growing.

Refuse to quit before you try.

Be brave. Be fierce! Say yes and Ride!

And when we win, it’s all for Him!

We please him with our Faith

and with our Grit and Grace!

God can use our success!

In the end, we become grittier and God is Greater! It’s all for the Glory of God!

Psalm 91:14-16

“If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God,
“I’ll get you out of any trouble.
I’ll give you the best of care
if you’ll only get to know and trust me.
Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times;
I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.
I’ll give you a long life,
give you a long drink of salvation!”

Hebrews 10:23-25

We must hold on to the hope we confess, God's promise that we have said we believed. And we must never let go. He has promised and he will do it.

ALSO… I am now officially a huge fan of PBR