‘The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the hinds’ feet, he enables me to walk upon the high places.’ Habakkuk 3:19

Hinds’ Feet on High Places depicts the journey that God’s children take when they long to be led to new heights of love, joy and victory. It is a beautiful allegory of the above verse, in which the main character (Much-Afraid) conquers her fears and enters the High Places with the strength and guidance of her Shepherd.

Much-Afraid lives and works in a little village surrounded by fellow villagers Bitterness, Pride and Self Pity. It has been arranged for her to marry Craven-Fear, but this is not what she wants, as she longs to be in the High Places with the gentle Shepherd, whom she has heard so much about. She is afraid she won’t be accepted there because of her disfigurements and failings, however she calls out in blind faith and He appears by her side. With His love she finds a new joy and strength in her heart as she begins her journey towards the High Places.

He leads her through heart-piercing sorrow, as well as stunningly beautiful victories. Along the way she learns specific lessons and builds altars of surrender to the Lord. After she reaches the High Places, she receives a new name and returns to the village, forever transformed by her union with her Shepherd.

Some of my favourite lines from the book:

I will cast myself down in giving. The lower I go the more love I am able to transmit from God to others, just like the Lord of Love himself, who was not content until he found and took the lowest place in the universe.

Said the Shepherd to Much-Afraid when she felt shameful of her thoughts and actions: ‘I never think of you as you are now but as you will be when I have brought you to the Kingdom of Love and washed you from all the stains and defilements of the journey.’

Said the Shepherd to Much-Afraid when she was afraid to be hopeful because of all the setbacks and disappointments she had faced: ‘Dare to begin to be happy. If you will go forward in the way before you, you will soon receive the promise, and I will give you your heart’s desire.’

My personal takeaways:

1. Going on the high places requires a modification to our feet (our faith), just like how only animals with specialised hooves are able to balance on the inch-wide steep rocks.
2. A good way to keep our faith strong is by looking back at the victories He has led us through. And we remember these wins by continuously reflecting on them and being grateful for them, so that we don’t grow complacent and take them for granted.
3. Faith is a supernatural thing enabled by an all-powerful God. Our Shepherd doesn’t just give us faith and expect us to grow it by ourselves; He refines this faith continually in ways only He can orchestrate.

I would highly recommend Hinds’ Feet on High Places to anyone wishing to hear God’s heart on this journey He has brought us on.

A great prayer from Hannah Hurnard: O my Lord! Enable me to prepare myself with joy, to put on my beautiful garments, and to go forth to meet God’s will with joyful anticipation.