The book of Habakkuk was most likely written in 7th century BC and is describing the destruction of Judah at the hands of the Babylonians. The book is a conversation between Habakkuk, a prophet, and God. In Chapter 1&2 Habakkuk brings complaints before God and He answers. In Chapter 3 Habakkuk prays to God and talks about the destruction that is coming to Judah and his fear of that. Then he prays the most beautiful response in verse 17 and 18.

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. Habakkuk 3:17-18

This is incredible and so challenging to those of us who get frustrated at God when life doesn’t look how we hoped. Its amazing that Habakkuk can take this view and hold such faith and joy in the midst of the coming disaster. The reason he can do this is revealed in the next verse.

The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights. Habakkuk 3:19

The description used here is amazing. Habakkuk is talking about a perspective change. Think about the analogy he uses. A deer is a nimble animal but is often on the menu for bigger, stronger animals. In the open the deer doesn’t have a great chance of evading capture. Predators can sneak up on it and although it is nimble, they are faster and more powerful.

If the deer goes on the heights its a different story though. On the heights it can see everything, predators don’t have the same opportunity to sneak up. Even if they do, the deer is well equipped to evade capture as speed and power are not as helpful in that terrain.

This is the same when it comes to navigating our lives. When we take the same approach and start from Gods view, on the heights, our problems can’t sneak up on us and even it they do we are well equipped to respond. The other advantage of viewing from the heights is that perspective makes those problems smaller. Why? Because they are viewed from Gods perspective than from ours.

Its time to hit the heights!!!!