At the precipice of the High Places in the place of anointing, she offers her whole life in sacrifice upon an altar, wakes to find that the flower of True Love has blossomed in her heart, and is healed and transformed by bathing in the river of life. We watch with amazement as He accomplishes His work in and through us, and we give Him all the praise and glory (Romans 11:36; Philippians 4:20).

Habakkuk had cried out to God about the sinful condition of his nation, and he had some questions about the methods God was going to use to correct the situation. Regardless of what others may do, we keep our eyes securely fastened on the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:2). Her work in Palestine and later Israel lasted 50 years, although she would later maintain a home in England as well.Born to Quaker parents, Hurnard struggled with her faith in her youth but experienced a powerful conversion at the age of 19. But, like the psalmists, Habakkuk did not stop with penning his frustration; he continued wrestling with his confusion until the Lord brought him to a place of resolution. Engaged to be married against her will to her cousin, Craven Fear, Much-Afraid escapes an attempted kidnapping by venturing out of her home in the middle of the night.

In climbing, the deer can place her back feet exactly where her front feet were, thus needing only two sturdy footrests instead of four. Learning to embrace Sorrow and Suffering, who never leave her side, Much-Afraid comes to a deep maturity during her travels, continuously learning how to submit her own will to that of the Shepherd, and even comes to embrace Sorrow and Suffering as friends as they prove to be most reliable and comforting guides. Hannah Hurnard’s 1955 novel Hinds’ Feet on High Places is an allegorical portrayal of purgation, progress, and ascent within the spiritual life. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. With God’s promises as our strong foundation, we can walk in freedom and courage, as unafraid and undaunted as a deer leaping on high places.Along the way she must overcome natural disasters, geographical and circumstantial hardships, and (most vicious of all) the attacks and assaults of various relatives who attempt to knock her off the Shepherd’s path and bring her back to the Valley with them for good.