Habakkuk 3:17-19 says,
“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.”
When I was in high school, this verse along with the book “Hinds Feet on High Places” by Hannah Hurnard was suggested to me multiple times. Ever since, this verse and that book come to my mind quite often.
Yesterday, this verse was once again ringing in my head as I climbed to the tallest mountain I have ever climbed. It was Ye Niu Shan? (Wild Cow Mountain is the translation). It was 15,830 Feet. And it was a challenge. In the moments of most difficulty trying to breath or climbing unending summits of rocks; I would proclaim the truth that God’s making my feet strong.
My time in China has definitely been a time of growth in strength and maturity. It is my first time to be called to a place without a clear mission or task. I had to be strong to do so and God has been making me stronger in the midst of it as I continue moving forward, not knowing how much farther.
In ways these verses seems very true to my life at the moment. I am not at a time of seeing the fruit of my labors and at times it seems as if there is no tree in sight. When a deer is surrounded by no vegetation, it must go seek out life and nourishment. And in its seeking, it grows stronger and more depended on its Creator and more thankful.
I too, do not physically see fruit around me, but I have been learning to dig deeper seeds and seek out more life. And I will continue to rejoice in the Lord and give him thanks for where I am. I would not want to be anywhere else. And I trust he is making my feet strong and I will make it to the heights.
(At the top!)
In the book, Much Afraid is the name of the main character. This morning I was thinking about fear and saw how in a way I was living in Godly/ungodly fear. My fear is that I would not be in the will of God, but being anxious that I would miss that is not good. But the fear does keep me sensitive to the Lord’s voice and leading.
I am about to be in another transition and it can be worrisome to not know what is next. I do not want to miss what God has, but I also must remember his faithfulness and trust that he will speak when I need him to. This past week I have quite searching google for options, because it was only making my anxious. I can’t seek google for my future; I must seek Jesus for my future. And praise God that He is the one with the answer.
So that’s an update on a small thing going on with me. I have a little less than a month left in China. I head to a different city this weekend to be a tutor for a 7 year old Chinese boy while he is on winter break the next 3 weeks.
You can be praying for:
-The family I will be with and sweet opportunities to really love them.
-My ears and eyes to be attentive and my heart stays at peace.
-Provision and favor for my future.
-Comfort and peace for my family as I am away.
