They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]; each of them appears before God in Zion. Psalm 84:7
One of my favorite books is Hinds Feet in High Places. In this beautiful allegory, a girl named Much Afraid is crippled and wants to go to the “high places” with the Great Shepherd, the God figure in the story. He says he can help her get to the high places and have the ability to move with “hinds feet,” gracefully and with strength, but she has to take the path he shows her.
The path to the High Places is anything but easy. It is grueling, often scary, and challenging. The story shows all the hardships and difficulties Much Afraid faces and it is in these trials that her hinds feet are developed. Her companions for the journey are Suffering and Sorrow. She walks down many valleys and must endure many treacherous roads. Temptation lurks around many corners. Yet it is through this journey that her hinds feet are developed, her weaknesses are transformed into strength, her Much Afraid heart is redeemed into Grace and Glory.
Isn’t this how it often is? In the trials, we are brought nearer to Christ. In this nearness to Christ we are infused with more and more of his strength. In the difficult journey we become stronger and more like Christ. Our values, patterns, words, and actions are renewed. We don’t always get to pick the path to our healing and renewal but we can trust that our God will be with us on the journey.
It is through the valleys that we gain strength, not despite them. Returning to Phillipians 4:13, Christ is the one who infuses us with strength to face the circumstances of our lives. We need strength for life’s circumstances because often they are challenging. Through these difficulties we are given what we need as we continue to rely on Christ.
There is a quip people say about patience that you shouldn’t pray for it, because God will give you situations which require patience. In some ways this is the truth. If we want to grow in the fruits of the Spirit we have to go through circumstances to develop these fruits. We have to practice patience to be patient. Practice loving to be loving. Practice gentleness to be gentle. We can’t do this on our own and in our own strength. No amount of mantras or can-do attitudes can sustain us in the various difficulties and annoyances life has for us. It is only by God’s power that we can go from strength to strength.
Over the last few years my prayer has been to become more content. Not only has it been my prayer but I am pretty certain it has been the prayer others have over me (ahem, my husband). Why? Because I am a pretty discontent, grumbling person by nature.
I see this fault in my heart and I want to be different. I want to be one is content regardless of the circumstances because that is what God has asked me to do and also because I truly see how this is the better way of life. Circumstances change day by day. A content spirit in Christ is steadfast. My emotions can take a rollercoaster ride throughout the course of my day depending on if things go my way or not. My Spirit knows this is not as it should be so I pray for contentment.
And the Lord is faithful to teach and instruct my heart. It’s just I don’t get to choose the lesson. I don’t get to determine the course. He does.
Over and over the Lord has provided the lessons and set forth the path. He has asked me to be a student on the journey. I know as I grow in contentment I will actually end up with a better and fuller life because regardless of my circumstances I will have learned to be content. I wouldn’t have necessarily chosen this path but it is the one the Lord has given me to help me learn this precious lesson.
I pray earnestly that I will soon be able to go from strength to strength and be in High Places with my Shepherd. I will look back on the path he has taken me and see his faithfulness. And I know one day I will stand before my God in Zion and all of life will be just as it was always meant to be and I will be completely, perfectly content.
Memorize: Memorize Psalm 84:7 in the version of your choice.
Questions to reflect on: Think back to the paths the Lord has taken you on. How did you view the paths at the time? How did those paths shape you? What are some of the fruits from those journeys?