“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls; Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 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 3:17-19
The Lean Into Jesus Conference was on February 7th. My soul rejoiced, and my spirit soared as we were led into the presence of the Lord that morning. The Holy Spirit of our God visited us and rained down sweet showers of blessings throughout the day. I sat in heavenly places with 350 of my sisters in Christ and a few of my brothers.
The sun was bouncing off the water at Lake Guntersville, and the rays were bursting through the windows. Songs of praise filled the atmosphere. The daughters of God offered up their testimonies of thankfulness to the God who redeemed, restored, and rescued them. Sweet fellowship filled the room, and for a moment I thought, surely this is what Heaven will be like.
I left the conference on a spiritual high, a Holy Ghost hangover. I was driving to my Mother’s house around 6:30 pm that evening when five large deer crossed the road in front of me. I slammed on my brakes and barely missed them. My seatbelt kept me from going through the windshield. Seatbelts do indeed save lives.
“For what is your life?” It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” James 4:14
I quickly sobered up from the spiritual high and became very emotional. I was reminded that life is short and everything can change in the blink of an eye. I was very thankful the deer didn’t cause me to wreck. I gathered my composure and made the trip to Mother’s. She has been bedridden for two years due to a bone disease that has left her lame in her feet. I help my brother care for her so she can continue to live in her home. It is not an easy task, but we do it out of love and respect for this godly lady who raised us. It has been hard on her, my Proverbs 31 Mother, who has always cared for others. It makes me sad to see her this way, but I know God has a purpose and plan in all of it.
I left my Mother’s house around 7 pm that night. I was tired and weary. As I approached the spot where the deer crossed, the Holy Spirit gently reminded me of Habakkuk 3:19.
“The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet…..”
Then the Lord spoke to my heart so tenderly, and He said, “I know this last mile of the night is hard. I know you are tired but I will strengthen you for the remainder of this season. I am right here with you. When you are weak I am strong.” I stopped my car and sobbed. I thanked my God for giving me spiritual eyes to see what He was showing me. Those five deer were strong and swift on their feet as they ran in front of me, and God was making me strong and swift to complete the last mile of the day.
I asked God, “Why five deer, why not just one?” Five represents divine grace. It symbolizes the goodness of God. We are granted that grace and goodness the moment we surrender our lives to Him and make Him Lord.
God reminded me that one day my precious Mother will arise and enter the presence of God, leaping like a deer, restored, rejoicing, celebrating in the presence of the Lord. Those five deer in my headlights were a sign and a reminder that God is with us. Through the good, the bad, and the hard things of life, He never leaves us to walk alone. We will enter into His presence one glorious day, leaping like deer.
“The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.
Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.
And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness;
It will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast. They will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and those the LORD has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” Isaiah 35:1-10
Dana Hill
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#danahillblogs