They Called Her: Much-Afraid

 

“When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.”

—Psalm 56:3-4

In Hannah Hurnard’s classic allegory, Hinds’ Feet On High Places, the main character, little Much-Afraid, lives among her relatives, the Fearings, in the Valley of Humiliation. Even so, she knows the Good Shepherd and desires His fellowship. She learns that He wants her to leave this awful place and follow Him, rather than live forever with those who would have her marry Craven Fear, the fiercest of the Fearings.

Much-Afraid learns from the Shepherd how to climb to the High Places, the Kingdom of Love. This is the place where His love casts out all her fears, including all those fears of the kin who have plagued her throughout all of her life. Through the struggles of a very long and circuitous journey, she becomes a new person—Acceptance-With-Joy—in the Kingdom of Love.

This journey from fear to acceptance, love, and peace does not happen quickly. In our own lives, we seem to have to learn this lesson over and over. Some of us have a greater struggle than others because we, too, live among Fearing relatives who constantly whisper in our ears their evil plans for us.

I am intrigued that throughout Scripture, God speaks the words “Be not afraid” more often than just about any other admonition. He knows our weaknesses and He knows the trials we come up against in this fallen world. After all, Jesus Himself lived with the terrors of sickness, storms, plots of hatred, sleepless nights, suffering, and even death. He most certainly understands our fears.

Unfortunately, this life does not afford us a quick fix to take away our fears. But, I believe that God wants us who know Him, to learn to trust Him, to look in His face, to arm ourselves with His promises through His written Word, and to seek His hope and encouragement. The path away from fear takes us through obstacles, sharp precipices, loneliness, and often dangers on every side.

If we are dogged by this constant companion Fear, we must hear our Savior say to us in the words of Isaiah 41:9-10:

“You are my servant; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”