Note: This article takes its inspiration and major points from a previous blog by Dr Lim Poh Ann, published on our website in 2014.
Chinese New Year is a special season. We gather with family. We catch up with friends. We enjoy good food and laughter. But it is also a good time to pause and reflect. A new year always invites us to think about how we are living.
The Year of the Horse reminds us of energy and drive. But it also teaches us about endurance, humility, and trusting the right source of strength. Here are a few simple lessons we can learn.
We Don’t Have to Figure Everything Out
Sometimes we want answers for everything. “If God is good and loving, why is there suffering in this world?” “Why does injustice continue?” “Why are some prayers unanswered?“
The prophet Jeremiah struggled with the same questions (Jeremiah 12:1–4) and God answered him with a challenge:
“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?” (Jeremiah 12:5)
In other words, we are often exhausted by our human understanding. How can we claim to understand the bigger picture? It is often not easy to admit this but our vantage point is limited. Due to our limitations, we often do not see the full story until much later. But God sees everything, past, present, and future. There are times when the wisest respond with humility, and we get our true rest in trust.
Strength Comes When We Need It
However, though there are seasons when we feel weak, it is often in such times that God’s supernatural strength comes into the situations, and then there are moments when we surprise even ourselves.
Scripture repeatedly tells us that God can enable us to do more than we expect (John 14:12; Ephesians 3:20). In one particular story, Elijah once ran ahead of King Ahab’s chariot (1 Kings 18:46). That was no ordinary sprint. It was strength given for a specific moment.
Many of us have experienced something similar. A crisis happens. A deadline approaches. A family emergency arises. Somehow, we find the strength to respond. We may not feel strong all the time. But strength often comes when it is truly needed.
Don’t Put Your Confidence in Appearances
Horses symbolise power. In ancient times, horses and chariots meant military strength and national security. Yet when Jesus entered Jerusalem, He chose a humble donkey, not a war horse.
Psalm 20:7 puts it simply:
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord.”
Today, our “horses” may look different. Career success. Savings. Titles. Influence. These are not wrong in themselves. But they are not ultimate. They cannot carry the full weight of our security. Strength without the right foundation does not last.
History Shows the Danger of Self-Reliance
The people of Judah once trusted Egypt’s military strength instead of trusting God (Isaiah 30:1–4), and it did not end well. In contrast, King Jehoshaphat placed his confidence in God and listened to wise counsel. The outcome was very different (2 Chronicles 20:20).
Even King David stumbled when he counted his fighting men (2 Samuel 24:1–10). The numbers gave him a sense of control, but it revealed misplaced trust. The lesson in such accounts is straightforward: security built only on human strength is fragile.
Strength Is Not Enough — We Need Wisdom
A horse is strong. But strength alone does not guarantee good direction.
Psalm 32:9 warns us not to be like a horse or mule without understanding.
Have you ever rushed into a decision because you felt confident? Committed to something without thinking?
Strength pushes forward. Wisdom pauses and considers.
Sometimes the wisest thing we can do is slow down.
Learn the Right Pace
Life has rhythm. There are times to move quickly. There are times to move steadily. And there are times to stop. Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us that to everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under Heaven.
Worldly distractions such as wealth, pleasure, and constant busyness can slowly pull us off course (Luke 8:14) and the drift is often subtle.
Like a rider holding the reins, we must stay aware. Adjust when needed. Pause when necessary. Life is not a movie with dramatic music and clear turning points. It is built through daily choices, repeated consistently. Faithfulness matters more than speed.
A Natural Checkpoint in the Calendar
Chinese New Year is more than celebration. It is a natural checkpoint in the calendar. The horse reminds us of energy and determination. But even more, it reminds us to live with discernment, humility, and right dependence. Move forward. But move wisely.
May we grow in endurance, wisdom and trust in Jesus Christ, the Rock and Foundation (Psalm 18:2). True stability and reliability is only found in Him.
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