Becoming Grace and Glory

One of my favorite books is "Hind's Feet on High Places" by Hannah Hurnard. It is an allegorical tale of Much-Afraid, the little cripple who is afraid of everything but overcomes her fears and follows the Shepherd to the mountains where she is transformed to Grace and Glory. I think I like the story so much because I can relate to Much-Afraid - always hesitant, second guessing myself and God, fearful of that which I am not in control of - but ever hopeful that as I step out on faith that the Lord who started a good work in me will complete it. Someday I will be like Grace and Glory as I learn to trust that God knows best and will never lead me in harm's way even though it may look pretty scary at the time. It leads me back to that faith issue of believing that God is who He says He is and that He can do what He says He can do.

At one point in her journey with the Shepherd, Much-Afraid is given the choice of having Sorrow and Suffering as her travelling companions or return to the valley to her Fearing relatives. It is one of my favorite passages from the book:

"Much-Afraid shuddered. The choice seemed terrible. Fear she knew all too well, but Sorrow and Suffering had always seemed to her the two most terrifying things which she could encounter....Then she looked at the Shepherd and suddenly knew she could not doubt him, could not possibly turn back from following him; that if she were unfit and unable to love anyone else in the world, yet in her trembling, miserable little heart, she did love him. Even if he asked the impossible, she could not refuse. She looked at him piteously, then said, 'Do I wish to turn back? O Shepherd, to whom should I go? In all the world I have no one but you. Help me to follow you, even though it seems impossible. Help me to trust you as much as I long to love you.'"

That's my prayer..."Lord, help me to follow you even though it seems impossible. Help me to trust you as much as I long to love you."