He Makes Me Walk

Jan 17

“The Lord God is my strength [my source of courage, my invincible army]; He has made my feet [steady and sure] like hinds’ feet and makes me walk [forward with spiritual confidence] on my high places [of challenge and responsibility].”

—Habakkuk 3:19 (AMP)

These words were spoken at a time of uncertainty, a time when all visible circumstances seemed bleak. Yet, in this declaration, Habakkuk does not crumble under the weight of what is seen. He does not retreat. Instead, he speaks of movement—of walking, of being made to walk.

But this walking is not mere motion. It is an ascent. It is forward progress. It is not stumbling, not dragging one’s feet, not wandering aimlessly. It is sure-footed, precise, steady. It is a divine command infused into the very sinews of the soul: He makes me walk.

This phrase, when traced back to its original Hebrew, reveals a depth that shifts our understanding.

THE HEBREW ROOTS OF “HE MAKES ME WALK”

In Hebrew, the phrase “He makes me walk” is derived from the verb הִדְרִיכֵנִי (hadrikhéni), which comes from the root דָּרַךְ (darakh).

This is not the casual walking of everyday life. Darakh is a powerful verb—it means to tread, march, or advance. It is a word of deliberate movement, of dominion, of forceful placement.

This word is also used in warfare, often referring to treading upon something in conquest. To “darakh” is not merely to move; it is to move with authority, to step with confidence, to take possession of where one is walking.

Now let’s add another layer.

When it says “on my high places”, the Hebrew phrase used is בָּמֳּתָי (bamotai), derived from בָּמָה (bamah), meaning “high places, elevated ground, mountaintops.”

But here’s the revelation: bamah was often used in Scripture to describe places of spiritual significance—either as altars to God or as sites of idolatry. These are not random hills or neutral highlands. These are places of spiritual confrontation, places where battles are won or lost.

Thus, Habakkuk is not simply saying God helps him walk. He is saying God empowers him to advance, to ascend, to take dominion over high places that demand responsibility, challenge, and spiritual warfare.

This is not just movement—it is a divine commission to walk with authority.

THE LARGER IMPLICATIONS: WHAT IT MEANS TO WALK

When God makes you walk, it means:

1. YOU DO NOT WALK IN YOUR OWN STRENGTH

The verse begins with, “The Lord God is my strength.” Before the feet move, the strength comes from Him. This walking is not about striving in the flesh but about being empowered by God’s force within.

2. YOUR FEET ARE FITTED FOR THE TERRAIN

The phrase “like hinds’ feet” is not incidental. Hinds (deer, specifically mountain-dwelling ibex) have uniquely engineered feet—their back feet land in the exact spot where their front feet stepped. They move with precision, never misstepping, never slipping.

God does not send you to high places unequipped. He gives you feet that match the terrain. What seems impossible to climb, what looks too steep or dangerous, is exactly what your feet have been designed for.

3. YOU ARE NOT CALLED TO STAY LOW

There is something profound about the fact that God does not keep His people at the base of the mountain. He calls them upward. He makes them walk higher, not in complacency, not in ease, but in challenge and responsibility.

• Moses was called up the mountain to meet God.

• Jesus was transfigured on the mountain.

• The disciples were sent to the upper room.

God calls us to ascension—not for status, but for encounter, responsibility, and perspective.

4. YOU ARE TAKING SPIRITUAL TERRITORY

The high places in Scripture were often sites of worship—both to Yahweh and to false gods. If God is making you walk on high places, it means He is leading you to occupy places of influence, to redeem what has been claimed by darkness.

This is the movement of one who is not just walking to something but for something—someone whose steps are reclaiming ground for the Kingdom.

GOD MAKES YOU WALK—EVEN WHEN YOU FEEL WEAK

It is easy to assume that this kind of spiritual confidence is reserved for those who feel strong. But the book of Habakkuk is not written from a place of prosperity—it is written from a place of waiting, wrestling, and hardship.

If you feel unsteady, uncertain, or weary, understand this: He makes you walk.

• Not because you have perfect faith.

• Not because you feel strong.

• Not because the way is easy.

But because He is your strength.

Because He has fitted your feet for the path.

Because He is calling you higher.

A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR JOURNEY

So now, consider this:

• If your journey has been difficult, perhaps it is because you are being fitted for higher ground.

• If you feel unsteady, perhaps it is because God is reshaping your steps.

• If you feel like you cannot move forward, perhaps you have been relying on your own strength rather than His.