I remember a winter a few years ago when we woke to much
colder conditions then our Southern norm. I was excited for the chance to finally
wear my leather boots. But as my daughter and I stepped outside to head to the
car, I made a shocking discovery. My boots were warm and, oh, so pretty, but they
weren’t remotely suited for an icy walkway.
In that moment, my backside felt the brunt of a life lesson.
It doesn’t matter how nice or attractive footwear is, if it doesn’t fit the
need it’s pretty much worthless.
The same holds true with the shoes we wear in our faith
walk. Spiritual flip flops are easy to slip on, but they’ll never be sufficient
to take us through difficult terrain or across long distances without tripping
us up.
When the Apostle Paul was headed to Jerusalem, the believers
were afraid and didn’t want him to go. They knew that road led to nothing but
danger and suffering. But Paul was never one to wear flip flops. God had placed
him on the rocky path to Jerusalem, so he laced up his hiking boots and pressed
on.
If God has placed you, or allowed you to be, on a difficult
path right now know that it’s natural to not want to be there. There’s
nothing wrong with asking God to smooth the way, to place you on an easier road.
But often time, that’s not His will. We can’t always understand the purpose of
the road we’re on, but He certainly does.
Even Jesus prayed for another option in the garden. He knew the cross lay before him and that
path required a serious pair of shoes. But his desire was to only do God's will. He didn’t falter. Wearing
steel-toed boots, He saved us all.
A believer’s path will never be completely smooth. In fact, we’re promised
trouble. But we’re also promised that we won’t walk alone. We need to stock our
closet with footwear suitable for any path we may find ourselves on. Shoes that give sure
footing when the way is slippery. Shoes for covering long distances as
we run the race. Shoes to step freely without harm from hazards around us.
Shoes strong enough to trample the head of the enemy when he attacks. But also shoes of
peace as we share the Good News with the world. And shoes for dancing in the
joy of the Lord.
I’ve been on a particularly rocky road this year. And though
I’ve prayed for the way to change, this is where He has led me. So instead of
praying for a different road, I’m praying for the right pair of shoes to walk
it in a way that brings Him glory.
Message for the
Journey:
It's hard to focus on much more than your discomfort when you're wearing the wrong pair of shoes. When you find yourself going through diffculty, think less about the road you're on and more about what’s on your feet. Ask God for shoes to walk it well. The right pair really can make all the difference.
-Ann Wilds
Let us run with
endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on
Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
Heb 12:1b-2a
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