I recently came across a metaphor that stopped me in my tracks. Both buffalo and cows can sense when a storm is coming. The cows, in their panic, run away from it. Yet the storm inevitably catches them, and because they keep running, they remain in it far longer — weary, drenched, and battered. The buffalo, on the other hand, charge directly into the storm. Terrifying at first, yes, but they reach the other side quicker, emerging rested and nourished, able to enjoy the green pastures watered by the rain.

It made me think about trauma. How often do we live like the cows, running from our pain, our memories, our fears? In doing so, we stay in the storm longer than we need to. Avoidance feels easier in the moment, but it prolongs the shame, the guilt, and the exhaustion. Healing comes when we stop running away.

The way of the buffalo calls for courage. It mirrors the life of faith. To walk through the storm means to face the grief, to let the tears fall, to sit with the memories that ache. Yet in that brave choice, healing comes swifter, because Jesus meets us in the middle of the tempest.

I don’t want to raise a generation of cows — running endlessly, weary beneath storms they were never meant to carry so long. I long for a generation of buffalo, who know that facing the storm with Jesus leads to peace, strength, and new life on the other side.

💡 Reflection:

• Think about a storm you may be facing right now. Are you running from it, trying to avoid the pain, or are you willing to face it with Jesus by your side?🤔

• What fears surface when you consider walking into the storm rather than away from it?🤔

• How have past “storms” shaped you — did avoidance prolong them, or did courage quicken healing?🤔

• What would it look like to trust God in the midst of this present storm?🤔

Take a few quiet moments to journal your answers. Invite Holy Spirit to whisper His perspective. Remember, you are not alone. He walks with you through every downpour, leading you to peace on the other side.

✍️ Journaling Prompts:

Facing the Storm with Courage

1. Name the Storm

   What storm are you currently sensing in your life — whether it’s grief, fear, shame, or uncertainty?🤔

   Write it down honestly, without judgement.

2. Buffalo or Cow?🤔

   When storms come, do you tend to run away (like the cow), or face them head-on (like the buffalo)?🤔

   Describe a time when you did each. What was the outcome?🤔

3. The First Step Facing the storm begins with one brave step. What small act of courage could you take today that would help you walk through your storm with Jesus?🤔

4. The Aftermath Think of a past storm you’ve endured. How did God use that season to bring new life, growth, or blessing?🤔 Write about the “green pastures” that followed.

5. God’s Presence in the Tempest In what ways have you experienced Jesus walking with you in difficult times?🤔

   How could you remind yourself of His nearness in the storm you face now?🤔

6. Generational Courage

   What legacy do you want to leave for your children, grandchildren, or spiritual sons and daughters?🤔

   How can you model the courage of the buffalo in a way that invites them to do the same?🤔

📖 "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." — Deuteronomy 31:6 (NKJV)

🙌 Prayer:

Lord Jesus, give me the courage of the buffalo. Teach me not to run away from the storms of life, but to walk through them with You. Hold my hand when fear rises, and remind me that Your presence is my shelter and my peace. May I model bravery, honesty, and faith for those who come after me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.