Last November I had the great pleasure of taking a trip to Israel with my mom, cousins, aunts and uncles. While we were there we spent a Sunday morning in the Garden of Gethsemene. Our group sang together worship choruses and wept over the awesomeness of being in this place, where Jesus went to pray. I spent some time alone that morning, and the Lord directed my sights to Habakkuk 3:19.

Little did I know that later the next day we would make our way to two additional places, En Gedi, where David went to hide from Saul and Masada. En Gedi is a beautiful gently flowing stream, surrounded by rugged rocks and boulders. Gedi is the Hebrew word for deer. While there I saw several mountain deer, a huge herd walk so close beside me as I climbed down from the top of the spring.

That same day I climbed Masada, a desert fort where Jews fled when the city of Jerusalem was captured and the walls were destroyed. This desert climb, arid and steep, also provided the opportunity to see more mountain deer.

I do not believe for a moment that these events were coincidental, no not at all, but divine appointments from God to direct my eyes toward Him. He wants us all to lean into Him, when the road we are walking is treacherous, the ground below feels like wobbly stones He will make our feet like hinds feet to climb up to the mountain heights. He gives us strength needed to make our ascent to the path He has called us to walk. It’s not easy, but yes indeed it is so worth it.

Habakkuk 3:19 (HCSB)

“Yahweh my Lord is my strength! He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!”