A Father's Love

The other day I had my one-year-old outside with me. She does not like to walk on grass or uneven ground, so she came to me and stretched her arms toward me and gazed at me expectantly. Instead of lifting her as she expected, I took one of her outstretched hands to guide her over the rough ground. "I know you want me to carry you, but you need to learn to walk in the hard places, little one." I realized how very familiar this scenario was to me. How often have I wanted God to just carry me through a trial, but instead He takes my hand and guides me through so that I may learn to walk in the hard places. "'O Shepherd. You said you would make my feet like hinds' feet and set me upon High Places.' 'Well,' he answered 'the only way to develop hinds' feet is to go by the paths which the hinds use.'" ― Hannah Hurnard, Hinds' Feet on High Places