As the Deer Pants

Sitting quietly on the deck of my friend's house early one morning, reading my Bible and drinking coffee, I was interrupted by a gentle rustling beside me. Something was stirring in the grass just off the deck. I turned to my left, and to my surprise found a female deer staring at me through the rails of the fence, only a couple of feet away.

I stared back, and we held each other's gaze for a moment. I thought to myself, “Maybe if I stand quietly, she won't be startled, and I'll be able to get a closer look at her…perhaps even take a picture from this close."

I slowly stood, and she didn't budge. She held my gaze, and I held hers. I lifted my camera and captured the sweetest picture of my new little friend (the photo used in this blog). Even after I took the photo, she didn't immediately run away. She stayed there, completely unafraid, quietly nibbling on the grass next to the deck.

My friend had told me that although they lived in the foothills of Denver, residents were not permitted to feed the wildlife, so I knew she wasn't there looking for food from me. Yet she lingered beside me for quite some time. So I began talking to her and softly calling to her. She took another step closer and looked directly into my face. I felt the sweetest connection with this little deer.

The next day, my friend and I were sitting on the back deck eating lunch when another female deer approached. Once again, she came very close and looked up at us. I stood and leaned over the deck, speaking softly to her. She remained nearby and looked back at me as though she understood every word. I couldn't tell if it was the same deer or not, but it delighted my soul to see this wild animal come so close. I felt like a little child again, playfully talking to the deer and marveling that the Lord would send such a beautiful creature to brighten our day.

That is often a sentiment of mine in my prayer, “Lord, send me a delight today.” And He typically does. On the third day, as I sat once again at the same table on the front deck, the deer returned. It was sheer delight.

Longing Anticipation

As I thought about those encounters with the deer, a couple of Bible verses immediately came into my mind.

First was Psalm 42:1: "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God."

Colorado has been suffering through an intense drought. I could only imagine how difficult it had been for that deer to find the refreshment of fresh, moist grass instead of the dry, parched terrain it was forced to forage through. Yet every day it continued searching for what would sustain it.

I pondered the simple persistence of that deer and asked, "Lord, what do You want me to see through these regular visitations?” Then the answer came. Thoughts of refreshment and hope. Thoughts to “lift our eyes to the heavens, for they are filled with clouds and heavy with water. The drought is over and the sound of rain approaches…showers of blessing upon the hearts of My waiting people.” It was so encouraging to my heart.

And then, a prayer. Isaiah 45:8, “Rain down, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness; let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together. I, the Lord, have created it.”

I was left with such a sweet reminder. Our Lord continually provides, even during the droughts of our lives, and His love assures us that the rain and refreshment we desperately need, is not only available everyday as our soul pursues Him, but an even greater rain and outpouring is coming. So my soul continues in longing anticipation of His daily presence, His fellowship, and His promises.

Strength for the Day

Then a second passage came to mind, one from Habakkuk 3:19, “The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.”

A hind is a female deer, though in the Biblical setting the image often resembles the sure-footed ibex or mountain gazelle found throughout Israel's rocky terrain. These animals are renowned for their remarkable balance and agility. Their feet are specially designed to:

• Grip tiny ledges on steep cliffs.

• Maintain balance on unstable terrain.

• Leap confidently from rock to rock.

• Climb to places predators cannot easily reach.

This is the picture the prophet Habakkuk wants us to see.

To give greater context, the prophet was describing complete devastation in Israel; the fig tree was not blossoming, there were no grapes on the vines, the olive crop failed, the fields had no produce, and the sheep and cattle were gone (Hab. 3:17). In other words, everything had fallen apart. But then he proclaims, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (vs. 18). Then comes verse 19 about the deer’s feet.

God doesn’t first promise Habakkuk to restore Israel’s crops; He promises to be Habakkuk’s strength. He doesn’t remove the mountain, nor straighten the difficult path, rather, He changes the person walking it. He makes their feet like the feet of a deer giving them stability to trek on dangerous heights of testing and trouble.

And that is something to really think about.

Eyes on Jesus

I could have easily dismissed those moments with the deer as nothing more than another pleasant encounter with wildlife. Instead, I believe the Lord was gently reminding me how to walk through the uncertainty of the days in which we live.

Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.

He is our daily Bread and Living Water, sustaining us as our souls reach out to Him each day. He is also our strength and our assurance that no matter how unstable life may appear, we can traverse every difficulty with the sure-footed confidence of hind's feet, climbing with Him to places where no predator and no fear can reach us.

So today, be encouraged. Do not fix your eyes upon your lack, but upon His abundance.

God bless you today,

Carole