SATURDAY — "Hind’s Feet on High Places": "Much Afraid's" Journey from Fear to Freedom
- Ken Kalis
- 26 minutes ago
- 3 min read
“The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places.”— Habakkuk 3:19
When I read this book, I thought Hannah knew me!
I was Much Afraid's fearful little brother, but Jesus changed me.
He gave me 5 words that changed my life and I'm giving them to you!
"Be not afraid, only believe." Mark 5:36
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Few Christian books have comforted and strengthened believers like Hind’s Feet on High Places (1955), Hannah Hurnard’s beloved allegory of spiritual transformation.
It tells the story of Much-Afraid, a timid young woman called by the Chief Shepherd to leave the Valley of Fear and ascend the High Places — the place of joy, strength, and union with Him.
It is the story of every Christian who longs to rise above fear, wounds, and the voices that hold them back.
During Advent — the season of longing, waiting, and transformation — this story speaks with fresh power.
1. Much-Afraid: A Portrait of Every Believer
Much-Afraid lives surrounded by the Family of Fearings:
• Dread• Bitterness• Pride• Self-Pity
Their accusations echo the voices many believers still hear:
“You will never change.”“You are too weak.”“You don’t belong to the Shepherd.”
Yet the Shepherd calls her by name.
He does not begin with a command: “Be strong.”He begins with an invitation:
“Come, follow Me.”
2. The Wounding That Heals
To ascend the mountain, Much-Afraid must accept the Shepherd’s gift — a seed of love that pierces her heart.
It seems painful at first, but it becomes the source of her transformation.
This mirrors the Christian life:
• The pruning that hurts• The surrender that costs• The obedience that feels impossible
But as Jesus said:
“Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground
and die,it abideth alone…”— John 12:24
The wound becomes the doorway to joy.
3. Her Companions: Sorrow and Suffering
Much-Afraid resists their company at first.
Who chooses sorrow? Who wants suffering?
But in God’s wisdom:
Sorrow deepens faith. Suffering strengthens endurance. Loss shapes love.
And in the allegory, Sorrow and Suffering become steady companions who support Much-Afraid when fear would overwhelm her.
No believer climbs to the High Places without walking with these companions.
Yet they are never the end of the journey — only the guides.
4. The Voice of the Shepherd
Throughout the story, the Shepherd appears again and again:
to reassure to redirect to remind
His presence is the book’s beating heart.
He is never far. He is never silent. He is never indifferent.
This is Advent: the God who comes.
5. The Transformation Into Grace and Glory
At the end of the journey, Much-Afraid receives a new name:
Grace and Glory
Her fears fall away. Her wounds become jewels. Her crippled feet become hind’s feet — swift and steady on the heights.
This is the promise for every believer in Christ:
“Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”— 2 Corinthians 5:17
We may begin in fear, shame, or weakness —but we will end in glory, strength, and joy.
Much-Afraid’s deepest wound is not fear alone, but the aching need to be loved — and the terror that such love might be withdrawn.
Raised among voices that belittled and rejected her, she learned to expect abandonment and to cling anxiously to any sign of approval. The Shepherd does not rebuke this longing; instead, He heals it.
By leading her through Sorrow and Suffering, He teaches her a love that does not depend on comfort, performance, or the opinions of others. Only when she learns that she is loved because she is chosen — not because she is strong — is her fear finally transformed.
A Prayer for the Climb
Chief Shepherd, You know my fears, my wounds, my hesitations. Give me hind’s feet for the climb. Teach me to trust You on difficult paths. Let sorrow and suffering lead me, not into despair, but into deeper fellowship with You. Transform my fears into faith, my weakness into strength, my stumbling steps into joy on the high places.Amen.
Discussion Question
Which part of Much-Afraid’s journey reflects your own walk with Christ right now — the valley, the climb, or the high places?
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Climb, climb up sunshine mountain,
Heavenly breezes blow;
Climb, climb up sunshine mountain,
Faces all aglow.
Turn, turn from sin and sorrow,
Look to God on high,
Climb, climb up sunshine mountain,
You and I.