Even though the storm had stilled, thick mist and cloud remained shrouding everything on the heights as Much-Afraid and her companions, Sorrow and Suffering continued on their journey to the High Places.

Feeling as if she would rather have made the journey by way of storm, than to continue onward when she could not see, Much-Afraid began once again to entertain the thoughts of her enemies. They filled her mind with lies, wanting her to believe that the Shepherd was actually  leading her away from the High Places.  She had not really noticed before, but finally realized they were not headed up the mountain at all, but simply moving alongside it, with constant ups and downs. It seemed as though they were actually headed downward, away from the High Places.

All she really wanted to do now was silence the voices of fear and dread which constantly entered her mind.

[Tweet “Sing your way through the mist.”]

Although Much-Afraid did not possess what most would call a pleasant voice, she knew she could sing loud enough to not be able to hear what her enemies were saying. So she sang the only song she knew, the one Sorrow had taught her. There was perfect silence as she sang, and the voices of her enemies were silenced.  As she continued to sing, The Shepherd appeared and joined her in song.

The Shepherd also wanted her to know that He would never think of her as she was then, but only as she will be after He brings her to the Kingdom of Love and washes her from the stains and defilement of her journey.

The mist had finally melted away and the sun shined brightly now.  The Shepherd sat down with Much-Afriad and had a little heart-to-heart.

Do you love me enough to be able to trust Me completely, Much-Afraid?

Her response was one of longing. She wanted to desperately to trust Him.

Would you be willing to trust Me,” He asked, “even if everything in the wide world seemed to say that I was deceiving you–indeed, that I had deceived you all along?

Much-Afraid knew that it was impossible for Him to deceive her.

Much-Afraid, suppose I really did deceive you?  What then?

Her response was out of desperation. She must love Him no matter what.

“If you can, you may deceive me”.  After which, without another word spoken, the Shepherd turned and went away.

I am truly thankful that God does not see me as I am, but as I will be, once I have been perfected in love.  I am continually amazed at the Shepherd’s love and care for Much-Afraid, even when she continually entertains the negative thoughts of her enemies, allowing hear heart to fear and distrust His plan for her life.

Help me to trust you, Lord.  No longer shall I entertain the thoughts of my enemies that say you are against me.  I know that you are for me, and though I may stumble and trip through life at times, I know that you are with me and will not allow me to fall.

This is Week 12 of a devotional study of Hinds Feet on High Places.  I have received the author’s permission to quote larger portions of text for purposes of this study.  All of the posts in this study can be found here.