Deer Feet: Psalm 18:33, 36

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I once met a man who called his son a “rock climber.” His son wasn’t someone who dabbled in buying the gear or who went on a trip to a national park that one time. No, he was a full-fledged rock climber. He plans trips based on the mountain’s challenge to his personal fitness, requiring his absolute attention to safety, and then he goes and takes on those challenges! So cool!

Sometimes God has mountains for you to climb—setbacks, new things, health scares, difficult relationships—and it's far too easy to look at someone else and think, "I could never climb like they climb, so I can't do this." Or you might see the peak of that challenge and say, "I can never get there. I'll never make it. This is too hard."

When David wrote Psalm 18, he was reflecting from a mountain peak that he originally didn't know he'd reach. In verse 33, we read,

He made my feet like the feet of a deer

and set me secure on the heights. (ESV)

When we are looking at that mountain, and we are feeling weary or intimidated or unequipped, it's because we are thinking we will have to climb it on our own, as we are right now. But in the strength of Jesus Christ, God transforms us. He changes our feet, so to speak. He gives us "the feet of a deer," which are designed for mountains. He doesn't give us mountains designed for our abilities. He gives us mountains that challenge us, then he develops the character in us, gives us the gifts we need, and shapes our heart, loves, humility, endurance, and abilities as we go. He gives us the feet of deer. He leads us up the heights securely.

And then, once we reach the peak, how important it is to reflect on where we are and how far we've come, with thankfulness to God for his providence! David did just that in verse 36:

You gave a wide place for my steps under me,

and my feet did not slip. (ESV)

Formerly, we looked at that mountain as something others could climb better, something we could never summit. Then we discover that with these new feet from God, this mountain has "wide places." Those places you never pictured yourself standing in are actually plenty wide enough for you now. This mountain has footholds that are spacious for feet designed by God. And so, with the help of God, our feet don't slip. People will look at you and say, "I could never do what you have done, endure what you have endured, be patient like that, love like that," and you can say, "That's what I thought before I had to do it. But God gave me what I needed when I needed it." He gave you deer feet.