Running with the Mountain Goats

If you search the internet for images of mountain goats, you will see them standing on what appears to be sheer vertical walls. That is because they have special hooves designed to find traction on the smallest of footholds. They show no signs of the fear of heights. 

The classic book, Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard, is an allegory of the Christian life (similar to Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan). The Bible, in the same way as Hinds Feet, likens the person who trusts God in the midst of difficult circumstances to that of a sure-footed mountain goat. 

“As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to stand on the heights.” (Psalm 18:30–33)

For me I don’t climb ladders anymore, nor do I get onto our roof. The days are behind me when I could walk across rocks at tidepools. David, the author of the psalm, is not talking about enabling me to physically climb again or to walk up and down sheer cliffs. He is telling believers that when they trust God, spiritually, they can obey Him without succumbing to a paralyzing fear.

Habakkuk also employed the image of a mountain goat. He said that in the worst of times, when it seemed like everything was being shaken, he could still find stable footing by trusting God and keeping his eyes on Him. “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights.” (Habakkuk 3:17–19)  

I’m sure our partners in Rwanda and India could teach us a thing or two (or, many more) about scaling the mountains of setbacks and difficulties. I would put our founder, TJ, into the same category as them. They all could share stories of finding stable footing as they’ve continued to trust God even when their circumstances were unstable.

Your financial gifts are encouraging orphans, widows, and other marginalized to walk on the heights. Thank you.

Marlon Furtado