The Narrow Gate

Did you know that horses are naturally claustrophobic animals? Tight spaces and narrow walkways can ultimately freak your horse out and put them into a panic. This is why trailer loading, wash racks, and stalling your horse can sometimes be a challenge.

This is also why it’s important to work with your horse and help them build confidence in these tight spaces. Horses (being herd animals) need a leader. If you own a horse, you need to be that leader that they can look to when they feel scared and unsure.

What happens when you are on a trail ride and you end up on a narrow path? Ensuring your horse is calm and confident is what’s going to keep you and your horse safe.

You see, narrow gates and narrow pathways are not always the easiest to pass through, especially for horses. But did you know that the Bible actually calls us to walk through the narrow gate?

This past week, I was reading my Bible and this verse stuck out to me.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” -Matthew 7:13-14

When I first read this verse, I envisioned the wide gate and the narrow gate. I guess my brain automatically pictures a horse pasture gate. Of course, a bigger gate makes it easier to go through, but a smaller and narrow one is more challenging.

The wide gate is where the world offers happiness and fulfillment, but ultimately causes destruction. It is a broader gate, and the one most traveled on.

The narrow gate is where we lay our lives down and live for a higher purpose. It’s not the road most people take, but it is the road that will bring you an abundance of joy and life and lead to fulfillment.

This narrow gate is special and has an abundance of blessings to offer you! And, although it may be challenging to enter at times, this gate will be the most rewarding.

Journal Prompt:

Read the verse from Matthew again, and ask yourself: Which gate do you gravitate towards most and why?

Ref: Luke 13:24, Luke 9:23