A Faith Conversation with Host Sarah Rose and Guest Lanita Peirce

What happens when a childhood dream, a love for horses, and faith in Jesus come together over the course of a lifetime? In this Faith Conversation, host Sarah Rose sits down with longtime barrel racer Lanita Peirce to talk about rodeo, family, perseverance, the people God places in our lives, and the faith that carries us through both the victories and the difficult seasons. Lanita’s story is a reminder that God can plant a dream in our hearts long before we understand where it will lead—and that there is no expiration date on pursuing the gifts He has given us.

A Dream That Started with a Horse

Lanita grew up on a farm near Wynnewood, Oklahoma. Her family wasn’t involved in rodeo, but she loved horses from the beginning. Her grandfather had cow horses they used to check cattle, but Lanita’s dream became much bigger after watching barrel racer Gina Day compete on a horse named Excuse. After seeing Gina win a barrel race, Lanita remembers telling her parents, “This is what I want to do.” Her parents may not have understood where that dream came from, but Lanita believes God did.

“It was just something that God put in my heart, I guess.”

Her uncle eventually found her a little horse in western Oklahoma, and what began in the early 1970s became a lifelong career and passion. Over the years, Lanita has been blessed with exceptional horses and opportunities she never could have predicted as that young girl dreaming about barrel racing.

Finding Her Way Back to God

Faith was part of Lanita’s childhood. Her family attended church, and she remembers Bible school, church camp, and spending time with friends who shared that foundation. But like many of us, there was a season when life became busy and her relationship with God wasn’t as strong. Lanita married, pursued rodeo, and admits she “sort of left the trail for a little while.” Eventually, however, she recognized that something was missing.

“I just realized I missed that connection to the Lord.”

She also wanted her children to see the Lord through her life and grow up knowing Him. Today, she considers it an incredible blessing that both of her children love the Lord.

Her story is an important reminder: A season away from God doesn't mean your story with Him is over. We can become distracted. We can get busy. We can walk through circumstances that leave us questioning everything. Yet Jesus continues to invite us back into relationship with Him.

Faith Through Heartbreak and a New Beginning

One of those difficult seasons for Lanita came through divorce. She described it simply: “It was devastating to me for a long time.” 

For 18 years, Lanita remained unmarried while raising her children and continuing to build her career. Eventually, she married Joe, and faith became an important part of their relationship. They began praying together and growing in their relationship with Christ. Lanita says that faith has brought something incredibly valuable into their lives: peace. That peace doesn't mean everything suddenly goes right. Horses get injured. Runs don't go according to plan. Dreams take longer than expected. Lanita even shared about recently hitting barrels during several runs that otherwise could have been winning runs. But she wasn't ready to quit.

“I’m not giving up.”

Through the disappointment, she could still recognize the peace and love of God that doesn't fail.

Your Gift May Be Connected to Your Purpose

One of the most powerful themes in Lanita's story is recognizing that our abilities aren't simply talents—they can be gifts entrusted to us by God. Lanita has worked other jobs throughout her life, including real estate, but horses have always remained part of who she is.

“This is what I’ve been good at. This was a gift He gave me.”

That gift didn't mean the road was easy. There were seasons when Lanita was raising children, supporting her family, training horses, traveling and trying to make everything work. There were injuries, including a broken leg and back surgery. During those times, friends and family stepped in to care for her and her horses. Looking back, Lanita can see God's provision through those people. Sometimes God's provision doesn't arrive as a dramatic miracle. Sometimes it looks like a mother who helps with the kids. A friend who takes care of your horses. A person who gives you an opportunity.

Someone who believes in you.

Or a husband who gets behind the wheel and travels thousands of miles beside you.

God often provides through people.

What Horses Can Teach Us About God

For Lanita and Sarah, horses are much more than competition. They can teach us patience, kindness, empathy, perseverance and partnership. Different horses also require different approaches. Lanita talked about her special mare, Lexi, and how sensitive she is. Lanita can't force her into performing. The relationship requires understanding, patience and trust. Lanita joked that maybe God gave her this particular horse later in life because He knew she was finally ready for her. There is a spiritual lesson in that. Sometimes God doesn't give us something when we think we're ready. He gives it to us when He knows we're ready. The waiting season may actually be preparing us to properly receive and steward the blessing we've been asking for.

When the Great Horse Doesn't Come Right Away

Lanita knows what it feels like to experience incredible highs—and then walk through a long valley. After losing two great horses, she found herself asking God why.

“Lord, I don’t see the reason here.”

For approximately 10 or 11 years, Lanita said she didn't have another truly great horse. She continued riding outside horses and managed to pay the bills, but she admits that season wasn't much fun. Then Lexi came along. 

Lanita's story reminds us that the absence of the blessing doesn't mean God has forgotten you. Sometimes there is a long stretch between what was and what is coming next. 

Keep going. Keep working. Keep believing. Keep trusting God's timing.

Advice for the Next Generation: Work Hard and Choose Your Circle Carefully

When Sarah asked Lanita what advice she would give young barrel racers who dream of following a similar path, Lanita didn't offer a shortcut.

She talked about hard work, dedication, knowing your horse, and being willing to do the work yourself.

Lanita rode outside horses to earn an income while continuing to search for the horse that could take her where she wanted to go. Every horse taught her something and helped make her a better rider. But the conversation went deeper than horsemanship. Success isn't just about having the newest equipment, copying what another competitor is doing, or chasing every trend. Who surrounds you matters. Seek people who encourage you, strengthen your faith, tell you the truth, and genuinely want to see you succeed. Lanita said having people with a godly foundation around you brings peace because they aren't simply looking for what they can get from you—they want to help you too.

Never Underestimate the Power of Encouragement

After decades in rodeo, Lanita understands something else: people remember encouragement. She remembers being a young competitor and having accomplished barrel racers notice her and tell her she'd made a nice ride. Those words mattered. Now Lanita tries to do the same thing for younger competitors.

“I try to always encourage those kids because it does mean a lot.”

Sometimes it's simply standing at the fence and watching. Sometimes it's telling someone, “That was a good run.” 

Sometimes it's a high five after a disappointing day. In a world filled with criticism and comparison, encouragement can become ministry. 

You may never know how much a few sincere words mean to someone who is wondering whether they should keep going.

Your Age Doesn't Determine Whether Your Purpose Is Finished

Lanita's story also challenges the idea that there comes a certain age when we're supposed to stop pursuing what we love.

She continues to ride.

She continues to compete.

She continues to travel.

And she continues to be grateful for the opportunity.

Her mother is 97 years old, and Lanita laughs that she hopes she inherited those genes.

More importantly, she hopes her story encourages someone else to get back on their horse—even if they never plan to compete professionally.

“Even if you don’t do the pro rodeos, get out and ride your horse.”

Maybe horses aren't your dream.

Maybe there is something else God placed in your heart years ago that you've slowly talked yourself out of pursuing.

Perhaps you've decided you're too old, too inexperienced, too late, or too afraid.

Lanita's life offers a different message:

Keep going.

“My Life Has Been My Childhood Dream”

Near the end of the conversation, Lanita said something beautiful:

“My life has been my childhood dream.”

Think about the power of being able to look back over decades and say that. It doesn't mean every day was easy. Lanita experienced divorce, financial responsibilities, injuries, difficult horses, lost horses, disappointing runs and long seasons of waiting. But she also experienced friendship, family, extraordinary horses, opportunities, travel, community, purpose and the faithfulness of God. And through it all, she kept going.

We Were Created to Need One Another

One of Lanita's greatest treasures from her years on the road isn't something hanging on a wall. It's the people. Rodeo has given her friends across the country—people who understand the highs and lows and who will step in when someone needs help.

As Lanita shared:

“God made us. He wants us to love one another and need one another.”

That may be one of the greatest lessons of her entire story. God didn't create us to walk through life alone. We need the person who helps when the truck breaks down. We need someone to care for the horse when we're injured. We need the friend who stands beside the arena fence. We need the person who tells us not to quit. And we need opportunities to become that person for someone else.

Don't Give Up on What God Put Inside You

Sarah closed the conversation in prayer with a message for anyone who has become disconnected from Jesus or discouraged about the dream God placed inside them.

Come back. 

Jesus is waiting.

And don't give up on the unique gifts God has placed within you.

No two people are exactly alike. Your gifts have purpose, and there may be people connected to that purpose whom you haven't even met yet.

Lanita's story shows us that faith doesn't guarantee an easy journey.

It gives us Someone to trust throughout the journey.

So whether God has called you into an arena, a business, a family, a ministry, a classroom, or somewhere completely different, don't allow fear to determine when you're finished.

Keep pursuing the gifts God gave you.
Keep encouraging the people around you.
Keep trusting His timing.
Keep getting back in the saddle.
And above all, keep Jesus at the center. Because sometimes the dream God planted in the heart of a little girl can become the testimony she is still living decades later. Faith Conversations with Sarah Rose shares authentic stories of faith, perseverance, purpose, and the transforming love of Jesus Christ.