When my husband and I were in Ireland earlier this year, I watched black-faced sheep graze easily—at least it appeared so—over the rocky mountain slopes of the beautiful Irish countryside. They seemed oblivious to the danger of falling. As I observed them, I imagined myself in their place and knew I would have slipped and tumbled down the mountainside shortly after beginning such a treacherous journey.
God, of course, has equipped these mountain dwellers to live on steep terrain. He has given them special cloven hooves to grip the rocks and powerful back legs to sustain them. The outer edges of their hooves are hard-rimmed, allowing them to grasp rocky ledges. The inner portion, experts tell us, functions like suction cups, holding them securely to rough surfaces. They were made to feed on the steep, jagged cliffs, and God ensured they were fully prepared for the task.
The prophet Habakkuk described a difficult terrain he might encounter before acknowledging God’s provision of what he would need:
“Though the fig tree does not bud
And there are no grapes on the vines,
Though the olive crop fails
And the fields produce no food,
Though there are no sheep in the pen
And no cattle in the stalls,
“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
“The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
He enables me to tread on the heights.” Habakkuk 3:17-19.
Though the nation suffers famine, Habakkuk will rejoice, knowing God has provided the strength to endure. God does not take away difficulties. He provides what His people need to survive and become stronger through the struggle.
We, too, have to negotiate difficult terrain at points in our lives. Getting through the first year of law school was challenging for me. We were expected to be prepared for every class and ready to answer when called on without prior notice. We were also expected to stand up and make our arguments to a class full of people we barely knew. Had it not been for the Scripture I recited over and over going to class and coming home, I would not have made it. Confessing God’s Word gave me confidence that God would keep me from falling and even help me gain insight and wisdom through the process.
Praise was my equivalent of the sheep’s suction cups. Praising God kept me looking at Him and not the situation. An Old Testament king who used his suction cups was King Jehoshaphat. When confronted by three enemy armies and no army of his own, he told God he and his people didn’t know what to do but their eyes were on Him. Jehoshaphat sent out the choir singing praises to God to confront the enemies. When the enemies heard the great noise, they figured their intel was incorrect and started fighting and blaming each other. The choir arrived on the scene, and the enemies were all dead. 2 Chronicles 20.
When we face our own mountains of difficulty, responsibility, or challenge, we can remember our metaphorical sheep (or deer) feet.
Our feet are rimmed by the Word of God. As we confess Scripture during difficult circumstances, God stabilizes us. He assures us we will receive everything we need and become stronger. Prayers of praise provide the suction like cups on the inside of our hooves. These prayers keep our eyes on the God who can defeat any enemy and fight our battles so much better than we can ourselves.
