Meet Lenora Southerland

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lenora Southerland. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lenora below.

Hi Lenora , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

Jesus Christ is my lord and savior. He has brought me out of he darkness and into the light

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I spent years in the grip of feeling hopeless, lost, and convinced that I’d ruined my life beyond repair. But in my darkest moment, Jesus met me with a grace I didn’t think I deserved. He didn’t just forgive me—He began to rebuild me from the inside out. My healing hasn’t been easy, but through every step, I’ve seen God’s hand guiding me, reminding me that I’m not alone. One of the most incredible ways He’s shown His love is by leading me to a job I never could have imagined for myself—working with horses and individuals with special needs through horse therapy.

What makes this work so special is how deeply it connects the body, mind, and spirit. Horses are incredible animals—they’re sensitive, intuitive, and often mirror exactly what someone is feeling. I’ve seen people who struggle to communicate or trust suddenly light up when they touch a horse. I’ve seen peace come over anxious hearts, and joy spark in eyes that have known too much pain. When Jesus is in the center of it, something even more powerful happens. He uses these animals and moments to heal in ways words sometimes can’t. It’s a kind of therapy that goes deeper than behavior or diagnosis—it reaches the soul. I want people to know that no matter how far gone they feel, God has a way of restoring what was broken, often in ways we never expect. For me, it was through horses, through service, and through a quiet arena where heaven meets earth in the most beautiful way.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back on my healing journey with Jesus and horse therapy, I believe the three most impactful qualities that helped me grow were humility, patience, and a willingness to be present. Humility opened the door for me to admit I couldn’t fix myself—that I needed Jesus to do what I couldn’t. It allowed me to accept grace without shame. Patience came next, because healing doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a day-by-day walk, sometimes two steps forward and one step back. Working with horses taught me that—they don’t rush, they don’t fake things, and they respond best when we slow down and meet them with calm, steady presence. And being present—truly being in the moment—helped me stop running from my pain and instead allow Jesus to meet me in it. Horses live in the present, and through them, I learned to do the same.

For anyone just starting their healing journey, my biggest piece of advice is to be real with Jesus. You don’t need fancy words or perfect faith. Just talk to Him—honestly, raw and unfiltered. Spend time with Him the same way you’d spend time with a close friend. Read the Word, even if it’s just a few verses a day, and let it sink in. Surround yourself with people who reflect His love and truth. And most of all, don’t rush the process. Healing takes time. Jesus isn’t in a hurry—He’s after your heart, not your performance. Whether it’s through prayer, time in nature, or even just brushing a horse in silence, make space for Him to work. He’s faithful, and He’ll meet you exactly where you are, even if you’re still a mess. Just keep showing up—that’s where the miracle begins.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

The Bible played a huge role in my development, both in my recovery and in learning how to walk daily with Jesus. At first, I didn’t always understand everything I was reading, but over time, the truth in Scripture started to sink into my heart and reshape the way I saw myself, my past, and my future. Verses like 2 Corinthians 5:17—“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”—gave me hope that I wasn’t stuck in my old identity. Psalm 34:18, which says “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit,” reminded me that God wasn’t distant—He was right there with me, even in the middle of my pain. And Romans 12:2, about renewing your mind, helped me understand that healing is not just emotional—it’s spiritual and mental, too. The Word of God became a lifeline for me, not just something to study, but something to hold onto when everything else felt shaky. It taught me who God is, who I am in Him, and that no part of my story is beyond redemption.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.knjtherapeuticriding.com/
• Instagram: knj_therapeutic_riding

Image Credits

Angela Ortiz