By Nita Wilkinson

Faith Editor

For many young people, an internship is a way to build a résumé.

For Brooke Henry, it became a lesson in patience, faith and learning to trust God's timing.

The soon-to-be high school senior spent May and June interning at Deary Performance Horses in Weatherford, Texas, working alongside one of the most respected names in the reining horse industry. But while she learned plenty about horses, she says the greatest lessons had very little to do with riding.

"I grew a lot spiritually," Brooke said. "God taught me patience, and He taught me to be more intentional about how I represent Him."

Her journey actually began nearly two years earlier.

Brooke first set her sights on Deary Performance Horses in 2023. At the 2024 Quarter Horse Congress, she introduced herself to Casey and Nicole Deary, hoping for an opportunity to intern. She was just 15 years old.

The answer wasn't no, it was, "Try again next year."

For Brooke, that began six months of waiting.

"There was a lot of prayer," she said. "Part of me felt like it didn't even make sense that I would end up there."

During that season, she believes God reminded her of something simple but powerful.

"He showed me they were just people, like everyone else He created in His image. Yes, they're very successful, but they're no different than anyone else."

That didn't make the waiting easier, Brooke admits her patience wore thin at times.

"I worried more than I should have," she said. "There finally came a time, after about six months, that I got to the point of accepting whatever God had planned. He certainly tested my patience."

When the 2025 Quarter Horse Congress arrived, Brooke tried again. She made a point to introduce herself in person whenever she had the chance, letting the Dearys know she wasn't looking for recognition. She simply wanted to work and was willing to do whatever was needed.

Her persistence paid off. She was offered the internship she had been praying for. Over May and June, Brooke did a little bit of everything.

"I warmed up horses for Casey," she said. "I brushed, saddled and cared for the horses. I kept the barn tidy, ran errands and worked with the dentist and veterinarians whenever needed."

She hadn't expected to ride many horses herself, so the opportunities she did receive, not to mention the advice she gathered from experienced horsemen, became unexpected bonuses.

But one of the biggest reasons Brooke wanted to intern there had little to do with horses. It was the Dearys' faith. The ranch openly incorporates faith into daily life, offering Bible studies for employees and integrating prayer into competition days.

"Their faith is part of everything they do," Brooke said. "That was something I really wanted to be around."

It wasn't long before God began working on Brooke's own heart. After a particularly difficult couple of weeks, she found herself sitting in a Jersey Mike's, reflecting on conversations she had participated in.

"I felt convicted," she said. "Those conversations were not being an example of Christ. It wasn't what God called me to do. I'm called to share the Gospel, and those conversations weren't doing that."

She describes the conviction as hitting her "like a wrecking ball.” That moment became a turning point, changing not only how she approached her internship but how she wanted to represent Christ every day.

Living nearly 1,100 miles from home wasn't always easy. While Brooke loved the opportunity, she missed her family, church and community. What kept her going was the support waiting in her mailbox. During her two months in Texas, she received 58 letters from people back home.

"It meant so much," she said.

She also found a Bible-believing church in Texas that faithfully taught Scripture, even though it felt much different from the small country church she calls home.

"Coming from a small church, 500 people felt like a mega-church," she laughed.

Even so, God provided encouragement through phone calls, letters and people who continued praying for her from Ohio.

Now back home, Brooke says the internship gave her something even more valuable than experience. It gave her perspective.

"It made me ask the hard questions," she said. "Is this really how I want to spend my life? It's a huge commitment. How will it affect my family some day?"

She doesn't have all the answers yet.

This August, she'll begin another opportunity working with Nathan Thomas, a dairy farmer who shows cattle, continuing to learn while exploring where God may be leading. Before that, though, she's looking forward to Logan County Fair week.

Brooke will enter her senior year this fall after being homeschooled since eighth grade. Along with her high school diploma, she'll also graduate with an associate degree in management.

That's an impressive accomplishment. But perhaps the most impressive thing isn't her résumé. It's her willingness to keep asking God for direction before asking what's next.

Sometimes the greatest lessons don't come from getting the opportunity we've been praying for. Sometimes they come while we're waiting for God to open the gate. ■