Journey To The High Places: Great Precipice Injury (Week 9)
photo credit: ecstaticist via photopin cc
This chapter brought so much emotion out of me this week. I’ve been looking at my own “precipice” (a very steep rock face or cliff, typically a tall one) and wondering if I have the strength and faith to ascend the mountain. I am in awe, continually, as to God’s timing in my re-reading of this book. Every chapter so correlates to where I am on my own journey. I can almost feel the hands of Sorrow and Suffering on either side as they come along side of me on this journey.
I, like Much-Afraid, fall victim to negative thoughts when faced with the enormity of life. The “I can’ts” come out in a perfect melody, drowning out the voice of , “you can do it” more often than not. And it’s in those moments, where I lose hope and allow fear to creep in, that the Voice of Fear hovers and fills my mind with lies and false accusations much like Craven Fear did with Much-Afraid when she was overcome with the enormity of what stood before her.
Much-Afraid knew where her strength was, but she was too afraid to call out to the Shepherd, for fear that He would tell her that the only way up was by jagged rocks and cliffs. She would surely fall.
It’s not just the enormity of the mountain that keeps us form ascending to the High Places, but it’s the journey up — jagged, steep, rocky, fear of falling looming at every corner, dark. And we forget, all too often, that He promised to go before us, to make a way where there was no way. We fix our eyes not on the hope and promise of what lies above, but on what looms before us. We look at the vastness of the mountain and we say, “we can’t”.
By whose strength do we ascend?
Pierced by her two companions, Sorrow and Suffering, she cried out, in utter helplessness and despair to the One she should have called for at the beginning of the great precipice. And, like every other time she called, He was there instantly. Although she felt shame, He only looked upon her with love and acceptance. He reminded her again of His promise to her in the Valley of Humiliation,
You will make my feet like hinds’ feet and set me upon mine High Places. (Habakkuk 3:19)
The Shepherd explained that in order for her to have hinds’ feet, she must go by the path which the hinds use. Much-Afraid was beside herself, stating she did not really want hinds’ feet if this is the way He had called her to go. We do this to ourselves, rejecting God’s blessing in our lives when the road gets steep. But thankfully, the Shepherd knows us better than we know ourselves. And He knew that deep down, this is all Much-Afraid wanted.
There is nothing more delightful than turning weakness into strength, fear into faith and that which has been marred into perfection. – Hinds Feet on High Places
The Shepherd leads her to the foot of the mountain and proclaims that there are new lessons for her to learn. And there, at the base of Mount Injury, Much-Afraid begins her ascent, tightly roped together with her two companions, Sorrow and Suffering.

I loved this chapter; how true, when we turn to our amazing Father He will supply us with the “Spirit of Grace and Comfort”! It is so easy to give up and fall back, but if only we can put aside our stubborn and weak ways, He enables us and transforms us! “He is able to turn weakness into strength, fear into faith.” Yes! Amen! <3
Blessings and love sweet Barbie; have a faith-filled weekend!
Oh yes Barbie, I, too am like Much Afraid and you listening to those – voices. I look at the Great Precipice and somehow feel so inadequate that is until I set my Hind’s feet where they belong (in Him, His Strength in my weakness; faith in Him and His promises to conquer all fears or doubts or failures; my many imperfections being refined and made perfect by Jesus Christ.
What an awesome reminder this chapter and your wonderful summation of it brings. I am so thankful that God helps me in the ascent … and knows me so well, “so much better than I know myself” … looking at the steepness of the ascent just confirms the song that came to me “YOU MAKE ME BRAVE” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hi-VMxT6fc
Surrendered and “injured” I want to enter in and ascend the mountains … love this allegory and your beautiful photo! Thanks!
Blessings, Peggy
I love the song, “You Make Me Brave”. It is often playing through my mind, as God reminds me that it’s by His strength that I can ascent the mountain. Have a blessed weekend.
I’m so thankful that He knows us better than we know ourselves! Praying for His will is always a bit, well, terrifying! so I can relate with Much-Afraid in this chapter. But we know the end of the story. God is good, all the time. And He is enough. Blessings on your day, Barbie!
AMEN for the end of the story!