Deer Me


deer

This morning I awoke early and rather discouraged, mainly from yesterday’s doctor’s appointment about my worsening psoriasis. My work load was also upsetting me. But, as the Lord so often does, He sent a minister of encouragement.

Just as the sun was up, I went down to the field to let the old sheep out of her stall. I’d pinned her up last night to get her out of the open cold. Returning to the house, I was surprised to see a beautiful deer prancing across the field. We often see deer in Roan Mountain, but almost never down here. He had beautiful antlers, and he ran toward the fence, paused, studied it, backed up, and leaped across it like a highjumper. He dashed across Pennington Bend, leaped the next fence, and disappeared into the field across the street. It was such a graceful, pastoral picture.

Coming back, I looked him up in the Bible. There are 14 references to deer in the NIV, and we are compared to deer several times. We’re to pant for God as a deer does for water (Psalm 42:1). But the verse that most encouraged me was repeated three times.

  1. 2 Samuel 22:34: He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to stand on the heights.
  2. Psalm 18:33: He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to stand on the heights.
  3. Habakkuk 3:19: The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights.

We may have fences in our way, but the Lord gives us leaping, prancing strength. We’re to be graceful with His grace and surefooted in His steps.

Lord, thank you for four-footed preachers!