Hinds' Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard is a highly allegorical novel that traces the steps of the main character, Much-Afraid, from a frightened, deformed, lost soul to a beautiful, spiritually connected, joyful being. Throughout the story, Much-Afraid faces innumerable and seemingly impossible obstacles on her journey. By transcending these difficulties, she takes on a new name and is able to see the world from a fresh, new perspective, enabling her to continue to grow in love. Much-Afraid, an orphan with deformities of her face and feet, lives in the Valley of Humiliation, where she is an unwilling member of the Family of Fearings. Much to the Fearings' dismay, Much-Afraid has become a shepherdess for the Chief Shepherd, a kind and wise man. The Fearings despise the Shepherd, and in an attempt to remove Much-Afraid from his service, they insist that she marry her malicious cousin, Craven Fear. Much-Afraid meets with the Shepherd and pours her heart out to him, wishing that she could leave the Valley of Humiliation forever and travel to the High Places.

The Shepherd brings Much-Afraid to meet Sorrow and Suffering, who are to be her companions and helpers on this journey. Much-Afraid is frightened of the journey and of them, but she loves the Shepherd so much that she is willing to follow through, even when he must leave her at times. Encouraged by the Shepherd's promises, Much-Afraid follows the path he has set before her. Since all who enter the Kingdom of Love must be completely blemishless, Much-Afraid's journey is a series of purifications and rites of passage. Before leading her into the high places, the Shepherd brings Much-Afraid through the Furnace of Egypt, the Forests of Danger and Tribulation, the Sea of Loneliness, the Precipice Injury, the Valley of Loss, and the Grave on the Mountains. During Much-Afraid's passage through these places, her Fearing relatives, Resentment, Bitterness, Self-Pity, Pride, and Craven Fear all follow and taunt her in attempts to sabotage her. Much-Afraid at first calls on the Shepherd to defeat these enemies, but eventually, she is able to call upon her companions and helpers, Suffering and Sorrow, to aid her in sending them away.

Once Much-Afraid has reached the Place of Anointing and the High Places, she is transformed, no longer needing human love because it has been replaced in her heart by something much greater. Much-Afraid's new name is Grace and Glory as a symbol of how graceful she has become and how she arrived at the High Places against all odds. Sorrow and Suffering are transformed into Grace and Glory's handmaidens, Joy and Peace. Finally, the King brings Joy, Peace, and Grace and Glory to part of the High Places that overlooks the Valley of Humiliation and the village of Much-Trembling. Grace and Glory is overcome by thoughts of her family and suddenly realizes that although she had simply assumed them to be evil and malicious, they are actually miserable and in spiritual pain. She immediately brings these thoughts to the King. After careful consideration it is decided that Grace and Glory, along with her handmaidens Joy and Peace, will follow the King down into the Valley of Humiliation to share their newfound happiness and all the possibilities of change.