Chapter 12 Summary

Chapter 12 begins as the storm that kept them in the cabin ended and they were able to continue on their journey. They could barely see in front of them because the mist was so thick and it felt very dreary to Much-Afraid. The dreary mist continued for days and experiencing this made Much-Afraid realize that she would rather experience fearful experiences than dull circumstances, because at least when she is fearful there is a type of thrill to it. Then Resentment, Bitterness and Self-Pity spoke up and caused her to doubt where the path was leading. They continued their taunts until she finally had the idea to sing and couldn’t hear them anymore.

Shortly after Much-Afraid began singing, the Shepherd appeared and the mist lifted. The Shepherd walked with then for a while and then suggested they sit and rest in the Sunshine. As they were resting, the Shepherd asked Much-Afraid if she thinks Sorrow and Suffering are good guides. Much-Afraid shared that she would not have been able to this journey without them and her feelings toward Sorrow and Suffering have changed a lot since she first met them. She explained to the Shepherd that she now sees them as friends, and feels like viewing them as friends has made a big difference in how she feels about having them as her guides.

Then the Shepherd asked Much-Afraid if she trusts him and asked her in three different ways. The first time He asked if she loves him enough to trust him completely, and Much-Afraid respond by say that he knows she loves and trusts him. The second time he asks if she would be willing to trust him even if it seemed like he was deceiving her and she responded by saying she would still trust him because she knows it is impossible for him to deceive her. Then he finally asked what she would do if he really did deceive her? This she did not have an answer to right away. Just thinking about being deceived by the Great Shepherd caused Much-Afraid to weep, but then she responded,

“My Lord—if you can deceive me, you may. It can make no difference. I must love you as long as I continue to exist. I cannot live without loving you.” Pg. 79

After this, Much-Afraid picked up a pebble from where the Shepherd was standing and added it to her memorial stones.

Chapter 12 Thoughts

1) The power of worship

Much-Afraid realizes in this chapter that the best way to drown out the voices of Resentment, Self-Pity and Bitterness is to sing out loud. This is something we can apply in our own lives as well. When we don’t see or feel a reason to sing, we can remind ourselves that worship is a spiritual weapon. Much-Afraid begins to sing while she is still walking in the dreary mist and is not feeling joyful, but after she has been singing for a little while, the Great Shepherd appears and the mist begins to lift. It isn’t her singing that lifts the mist, but her singing connects her to the Shepherd and His presence lifts the mist.

2) How we view Sorrow and Suffering

Much-Afraid admits to the Shepherd in this chapter that she has begun to appreciate Sorrow and Suffering instead of fearing them over this journey and has even begun to consider them her friends. She also shared that it seems like Sorrow and Suffering actually want to help her and be with her on this journey.

What would change in our lives if we stopped fearing suffering and sorrow in our lives but accepted them as guides? It may be too far of a stretch to view them as friends, but even just to see them as guides meant to help us. I understand this comes with a lot of complex feelings and what it brings up for each person is different, but this is the questions posed to use over and over again in this book… Will we accept the help of sorrow and suffering instead of trying to run away from it?

3) Would we allow Jesus to deceive us?

How we view sorrow and suffering also leads to our willingness to allow Jesus to deceive us. I do not think it is a coincidence that Much-Afraid is able to give the Shepherd permission to deceive her in the same chapter that she realizes sorrow and suffering are friends that help her on her journey to get hinds feet. Full surrender to Jesus means that we will continue to follow him no matter the cost, and that even if he decided to deceive us, or allow calamity in our life, we will still follow Him because there is no one else.

“So Jesus asked the Twelve, ‘Do you want to leave too?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.’”
John 6: 67-68

Much-Afraid still has several lessons to learn on her journey to the High Places and I look forward to continuing this journey with you.

-Nadine

Hinds Feet on High Places Summary and Thoughts - Chapter 12

Hinds Feet on High Places Summary and Thoughts - Chapter 11