Hinds Feet on High Places is a book I've recently read. In this story, Much-Afraid seeks God by going on a journey to the High Places, but along the way the Shepherd leads her to the Valley of Losses. There is a lot of heartbreak and loneliness and fear in this valley. She says, “How could one follow a Person who asked so much, who demanded such impossible things, who took away everything?” Like Much-Afraid, I am feeling loss – loss of my home, loss of my family, loss of my friends, loss of everything that is familiar. Going on the mission field for me very much feels like walking through the valley of losses.
It can be easy to listen to the Enemy’s lies about who God is and wonder if it’s worth it to give everything up for Him. However, after Much-Afraid walked through the Valley of Losses, she arrived at the Place of Anointing where the Shepherd showed her a great waterfall. At first the water seemed terrible to her, because the water left the great heights and they were cast down to the rocks. But as she looked closer, she saw that as the water cast themselves down, they abandoned themselves “to ecstasy and joy indescribable”. Jesus showed me that I need to cast myself down like that waterfall and stop seeking others for comfort, but instead to lay myself down to love Him and love others. When I cast myself down, I find tremendous joy unlike anything else. It IS worth it to give up everything to Him, because as we give up everything, we receive ABUNDANT LIFE.