It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he causes me to stand on the heights.
Psalm 18: 32-33a (NIV)
If you are struggling, you don’t have to look far to be told that the answer to your problem lies within you; that you alone hold the key to your happiness. While we play a crucial role in determining the direction of our lives, we are never the complete answer to our problems. Any solution that excludes God and relies totally on self is an erroneous one. Real peace, flourishing and joy comes from being in right relationship with God.
One of the most powerful rulers in world history, King David, knew this. As he recounts his victories over his enemies and his escape from King Saul who was trying to kill him, he acknowledges the true source of these wins. He says it is God who arms him with strength and keeps his way secure.
David was able to succeed because he relied on God’s strength – and the same applies to us when we encounter our own challenges. We don’t face our giants alone; we are empowered with strength from the Lord. And he doesn’t get tired or run out of strength, so we can always go to him for more when we are feeling distressed and weary. Isaiah 40:29 says, ‘He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.’
There is a freedom that comes from knowing that we are doing things in God’s strength and not our own. We can release the burden of feeling like everything falls on our shoulders as this is not how God created us to live.
God kept David’s way secure. Another version refers to his way being made ‘perfect’ (KJV). There is a sense of God going ahead of David to make sure the path ahead as safe. Ponder on the fact that God does the same for you, clearing the ground under you (MSG) as you make your way through life.
David said God made his feet the like the feet of a deer. These animals have two large and two small hooves on each foot – they tend to walk on the two larger hooves. Deer’s hooves are covered in keratin which is what our nails are made from – the keratin strengthens the deer’s hooves so they don’t crack as easily as bone would. Apparently, the way deer’s’ feet are made also enable them to move quickly, navigating difficult paths with confidence and to walk quietly when needed. They also use them to defend themselves.
We can also metaphorically have feet like a deer, running and jumping through life, solid and sure-footed, quickly sometimes, quietly at others. There’s a beautiful picture of us moving nimbly and gracefully through life, walking confidently and fearlessly, and avoiding pitfalls. And why are we able to do this? Because God has given us strength and made the road ahead of us safe, despite how things may appear. If he has gone before us, everything will work out for our good.
And we don’t stay on lower ground – we also can move up to stand on the heights. Walking with God isn’t about living in the comfort zone, but overcoming fear and complacency to do things that we may not have expected. This isn’t a picture of someone teetering nervously on the edge, but standing firm on the summit. And we can do this with confidence because we are armed with strength and with the right footwear.
The Apostle Paul reminds us in the New Testament that it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:21a). Jesus says, ‘…apart from me you can do nothing’ (John 15: 5b).
The heart of the message is that we need God; we can’t navigate life successfully and victoriously without him. God arms David with strength; God made his feet like deer’s feet; God made his way secure. God caused him to stand on the heights. And he will do the same for us today if we let him.
Pause: Picture a deer walking with confidence on rough terrain (or find a video of deer doing this online). What thoughts come to mind?
Reflect: Is there a problem that you are trying to solve in your own strength? What would you need to do to involve God in the situation and rely on his strength instead of your own?
Rise: Surrender your solutions to God and ask him to give you the strength you need to overcome and walk with the assurance that he has gone ahead of you in life.