<>I recently read the book "Hinds' Feet On High Places" by Hannah Hurnard. It was originally published in 1973, and my mother has had it in her library of books and passed it on to me. The author had many struggles in life, mainly stuttering and depression, and her book is an allegory that reflects the yearning we have for God to lead us to new heights of trust, victory, and love.
<>The main character is named Much Afraid, She meets a Shepherd that promises to take her on a journey out of the Valley of Humiliation she lives in and up to the High Places. The Shepherd is characterized as kind and gentle, and filled with love. She agrees to leave behind her family, called the Fearings, and follow the Shepherd. One of the promises the Shepherd makes is to take away her lameness. She is described as a cripple, with feet so crooked that they often cause her to stumble. She also has a disfigured face with ugly blemishes.
<>Much Afraid finally gathers the courage to leave the valley and follow the Shepherd. The Shepherd tells her that he can't travel with her the entire time, so he gives her two companions, Sorrow and Suffering. At first she is very afraid of her companions. They are tall and their faces are veiled. She trembles at the thought of them, but must learn to take their hands and let them lead her because Much Afraid trusts the Shepherd.
<>Her family is not happy and sends her cousins, Craven Fear,pride, and selfishness to discourage her from leaving. They taunt her all along the way and try to discredit the Shepherd. One of my favorite parts of the story is when she is trying to climb a steep hill and her cousins are taunting her to turn back. She is taught a song by Sorrow and Suffering so that when she sings it, the voices of her cousins are drowned out by her own singing of joy and trust in the Shepherd. I really related to that because I listen to uplifting music every day that lifts my soul.
<>Much Afraid starts the journey thinking it will be a beautiful and easy road. Her companions soon lead her into the desert, and Much Afraid is anguished at the thought of having to travel through such a desolate place. The taunting of her relatives almost makes her turn back. Much Afraid sees several things in the dessert. A threshing floor, a whirring wheel, and a fiery furnace. She also sees a little flower growing out of the rocks, The flower's name is Joy With Acceptance. Much Afraid calls on the Shepherd when it becomes more than she can take, and he is immediately there beside her. She leaves the desert knowing the Shepherd had brought her there for a purpose, and she is better for it.
<>Her journey continues to the Shore of Loneliness, and then to the Great Precipice of Injury, through the Forests of Danger and Tribulation, and the Valley of Loss. Each of these places brings her new strength and courage, and her companions are not as foreboding as they seemed when she first took their hands. The more accepting she becomes of these companions, the more alive she feels and aware of the beauty around her.
<>There are many profound moments throughout this book. If you are a person traveling a very hard journey, you will understand the deep despair the Much Afraid feels as she is led to these places. If you trust Jesus as your Savior, you will understand even better the joy of following the Shepherd, not matter what road he asks you to travel. One of the great moments in the book was when Much Afraid says the following to the Shepherd:
<>Suddenly she burst into a passion of weeping, then after a little while looked straight up into His face and said, "My Lord - if You can deceive me, You may. It can make no difference. I must love You as long as I continue to exist. I cannot live without loving You."
<>That is the kind of love I have for Jesus. If He is a fake, then I am stumped at who is answering all of my prayers. I know I pray to a real God, and I have joy in knowing that He loves me enough to come to earth as man to die on the cross for my sins. But, even if it were a lie, I can't imagine living differently than I do now. I know he lives!
<>Sandy
