Hinds Feet on High Places Complete and Unabridged by Hannah Hurnard

Loved it all. So many precious promises. The love of God fully displayed. We can all relate to Much Afraid.

Outside of Scripture, this read was one of the most encouraging literary adventures I have ever undertaken. I just finished the book last night and can't wait to start its sequel "Mountains of Spices." For any Christian who walks through the trials of this world being in it but not of it, yet enduring its suffering and sorrow, this book will encourage and edify. I was greatly inspired to look at my own trials a bit differently as I followed the protagonist Much-Afraid along her own path beset with the torments of Pride, Self-Pity, Bitterness, and others. I don't think I can recommend this read highly enough, especially to women. I tend to lean not toward the women's literature or fiction aimed at that demographic, but this book is a rare exception that was worth every minute of my time. In fact, because I read it at nighttime before retiring, I plan to read it again in my waking hours so I can glean yet more treasures from the truths told within. SPOILER ALERT: The only part that I found disappointing was when the Shepherd asked Much-Afraid how she would respond if he lied to her. I found this terribly uncharacteristic of Christ in the Scriptures, and I wonder why the author chose to insert this question into the text. It still did not take away from the richness of the truth found scattered throughout this work that is so true I hesitate to call it fiction, except that the tale is allegorical yet contains within great truth. Don't miss this book if you enjoy Christian reading. It's a gem that I'm grateful to have made the time to read. Onward and upward, much like Much-Afraid, keeping my eyes ever on the Good Shepherd.

We live in a church culture that frowns upon displays of sorrow, doubting, and struggles with sin or imperfection. There is a perception that if you believe hard enough, God will "snap His fingers" and make all of your sorrow, doubt, and struggles go away. Many of the professing Christians who claim this are the same people who claim that, if you do struggle in the aforementioned ways, you are bankrupt in the knowledge of God's love or don't have enough faith. This doctrine is detrimental to the modern church and, most importantly, contrary to what the Bible actually teaches (Matthew 5:4; 2 Corinthians 6:10; Romans 7:13-25). This marvelous book displays that the Christian's life is, in fact, one of sorrow and suffering. We see the main character constantly doubting herself, sometimes overcoming and sometimes falling into temptation, questioning if her Shepherd really knows what is best for her life, finding the road to the High Places long and difficult, and gradually transforming into someone more beautiful and capable throughout the story. God is omnipotent and more than capable of "snapping His fingers" to make our difficulties vanish...but more often than not, He is actually the one leading us to those difficult paths. Without those seasons, we would not be able to develop in the ways that make us fit for the High Places. There is beauty in the struggle. One of my favorite lines from the book is the following: "You may think that Much-Afraid was altogether too much given to shedding tears, but remember that she had Sorrow for a companion and teacher. There is this to be added, that her tears were all in secret, for no one but her enemies knew about this strange journey on which she had set out. The heart knoweth its own sorrow and there are times when, like David, it is comforting to think that our tears are put in a bottle and not one of them forgotten by the one who leads us in paths of sorrow." This book has the potential to be of immense spiritual benefit to you. God may just use it to bring you comfort as He reveals that you are closer to your Shepherd than you know. This is a great read for everyone, but particularly those brothers and sisters in Christ who are well-acquainted with sorrow and suffering.

What a beautiful story. I started reading this many years ago, and every time that life got too busy, I put it down for a season. When I picked it up again, I would start all over. I wanted to get the full feel of the flow of the book. Well inevitably life would get busy again and I would repeat the process over. I did this several times, over a period of 3-4 years. This book was so precious to me though, that I knew that I wanted to read it to my children (and finally finish it myself) now that I am older. Not that life isn't busy anymore, it is just a different busy and reading stories like this one is what we do take time to do now. I had forgotten about this story (I don't know why) until a friend of mine and I were in a conversation and the thought entered into my mind to lend her my beautiful and only hard copy of the book. A few weeks later, I thought about the book since our family had just finished Brownie the Bear (good book too--just different altogether than this one) and needed a new one to read. This book is an allegory based on Song of Solomon. This book will always hold a special place in my heart. Highly recommended. Especially for single gals who have a relationship with God and are going through a rough part in life and need help to see themselves in God's eyes and a fresh perspective of why God allows Sorrow and Suffering in our lives. We need to understand that their is an end goal...Good read-aloud for the family. The older the audience, the more precious the meaning. My husband and I were tearing up as I was reading a portion of the first chapters. How precious!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story which was full of twists and turns. Scripture is quoted which links to the plot. This story could certainly be read to young children. God bless you as you read this book.

Good

I just finished reading this book and found it to be an enchanting allegory of the Christian walk with Christ. Most can identify with the main character Much Afraid and her desire to change and be transformed into the person that the Chief Shepherd wants her to become if she will go on this journey with him. I really enjoyed reading this book and recommend it if you would like to walk the same walk as Much Afraid

Eu amei esse livro. Meu favorito.

This truly was the best book I've read except the Bible. I had been struggling to really, in my heart of hearts, to believe that the suffering in my life was for a good plan by a truly good God. This book opened my eyes. A beautifully, creatively written story. I will read it again and again for sure. I recommend this to everyone wanting to be transformed and to experience in a different way the love of God.