HABAKKUK 3:19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet...
Lately I've been reading Hind's Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard - “...a beautiful allegory dramatizing the yearning of God's children to be led to new heights of love, joy, and victory.”
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The story follows little 'Much-Afraid' on a spiritual journey she takes through difficult places with her two companions, Sorrow and Suffering. She overcomes her fears as she passes through many dangers and mounts at last to the High Places. In the High Places she gets a new name, from Much-Afraid to Grace and Glory, and she also learns the real names of her companions – Joy and Peace. She is transformed by her union with the the loving Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
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But first she had to escape from her Fearing relatives (aspects of character) and go with the Shepherd to the High Places where “perfect love casteth out fear.” Her relatives were scattered all over the valley and she could never really escape from them. She was an orphan brought up in the home of her aunt, Mrs. Dismal Forebodings, with her two cousins Gloomy and Spiteful and their brother Craven Fear, who was a bully who tormented and persecuted her. Her relatives wanted her to marry her cousin Craven Fear. All of the Fearings hated the Chief Shepherd, and they hated that one of their own was in His service. Much-Afraid was terrified of her relatives and she never learned to resist or ignore their threats.
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When she finally decided to follow the Shepard to the High places, still much afraid, her relatives followed her as far as they could, tormenting her all the way, until she reached her High Places, learned valuable lessons, and was able to resist them.
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She learned four lessons on this journey -
-First, she learned that she must accept with joy all that the Sheperd allowed to happen to her on the way.
-Second, she learned that she must bear all that others were allowed to do against her and to forgive with no trace of bitterness.
-Third, she learned that the LORD never regarded her as she actually was, lame and weak and crooked and cowardly. He saw her as she would be when He had done what He promised and had brought her to the High Places.
-Fourth, she learned that every circumstance in life, no matter how crooked and distorted and ugly it appeared to be, if it is reacted to in love and forgiveness and obedience to God's will, it can be transformed. She learned that the LORD may purposely allow us to be brought into contact with the bad and evil things that He wants changed. Our purpose here is not just to bind evil, but whenever possible overcoming it with good.
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The Sheperd told her that as long as she was willing to be 'Acceptance-with-Joy' and 'Bearing-in-Love', she would never again become crippled, and would be able to go wherever He would lead her.
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I started reading this book about 20 years ago. There have been times over the years when I thought I was near my High Places, but have learned that I still have a ways to go. But recently I believe that I am close. My 'Fearing relatives' have upped the heat and persecutions. There have been times when my companions, Suffering and Sorrow, were all I saw and I didn't know how I would continue. But I am learning to accept whatever the LORD allows to happen to me, because He is in control of the good and the bad. To accept with joy because I am learning that it all is for my good, to get me to my 'High Places'. I am also learning to bear what others are allowed to do against me and to forgive with no bitterness, so that I can bring good out of evil.
Also, these “Fearing relatives” are related to to me, and they are also a part of me. It is a matter of being a witness to His Love and Power. A "Fearless Witness".
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I think I am close. I am learning to overcome evil with good. I am learning that it not my will that is important, but God's will, and to forgive as God has forgiven me.
Habakkuk 3:18-19 (King James Version)
18Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
19The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
