High Places Redefined

A recent women’s conference has me looking at life situations from a new perspective. One of the speakers challenged the listeners to stand up for what they know God wants for them. I listened to her challenge, but a comment about worshiping in high places sent me to a familiar passage of scripture:

Habakkuk 3:19 The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!  Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

I realized that for all the years I have been a believer, I equated high places with joy and happiness and valleys with trouble and suffering. There are such parallels drawn in the Psalms, but my spirit was challenged to look again at the Habakkuk passage. I was struck that experience has taught me to worship and make spiritual progress in trouble, suffering, and responsibility in the seasons of struggle.

I believe God promised me a new part of His plan when I moved to Tennessee:

Isaiah 43:18 “Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.” Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.

He adds those roads and rivers in places where struggle is significant. They are not needed in the valleys of civilization and plenty. Many years ago, when my then husband decided that our marriage was over, I learned the lesson of rejoicing and worshiping God no matter the circumstances. Amongst the songs He used to encourage my heart to worship was from Habakkuk 3 on the 1989 “My Refuge” Hosanna album by Kent Henry, still available on music streams and heard on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq8JeBWRdrM. I decided then that no matter what I face in suffering in soul or body, choosing to worship could bring me peace.

My current season entails learning what contentment means and how to be content. Again, I choose to acknowledge and practice that worshipping the Lord God Almighty, the Three in One, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, changes me from hopeless to hopeful. He knows best even when I don’t understand. If you’re in a season of trouble, suffering, or responsibility, please consider worshipping God because the sacrifice of Jesus allows you access to His presence and love.