THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SHOES

You know, life is tough when problems arise.

We all know that.

But for me, sometimes life is tough when things are going great.

WHY?

Because it seems like I’m always waiting for the "other shoe to drop."

I know that this is a self-defeating thought process. I know that it exhibits my tendency toward negative thinking. I know that it doesn’t say a whole lot about my faith and trust level.

I can make a bunch of excuses for it. In fact, here are a few…anxiety issues, obsessive thinking, a faulty temperament. OK, I feel slightly better doing that. But the truth of the matter is this – it isn’t all that wrong to look at life this way.

There will always be shoes…and they will drop.

It is the one sure thing in this life.

Stuff happens.

Look up “Murphy’s Law” on Wikipedia. It’s a rather interesting article. The one thing that really struck me was the many fields of study that have found this one basic adage to be true – physics, mountaineering, magic, engineering, medicine, law - to name a few.

Hey, I can even quote some Scripture that supports this idea:

"Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows." (John 16:33)

Those are the words of Jesus Himself – God. They’re written in RED letters in my Bible.

He knew.

Look at His own life.

He’s born – YAY.

Herod tries to kill Him – BOO.

He’s the Son of God – YAY.

His brothers hate Him – BOO.

He gets baptized, and receives God’s blessing – YAY.

He gets tempted in the wilderness – BOO.

He brings the Good News to his hometown – YAY.

They try to kill Him – BOO.

He calls twelve disciples – YAY.

One betrays Him – BOO.

He’s hailed as the King of Jews – YAY.

A week later, He’s crucified – BOO.

I’m thinking that’s why He could say that verse. He knew it from experience. Life is tough. And just when things are starting to look up, just when things are going well, just when you can catch a little breathing room…

BOOM!

Is that that other shoe again???

I don’t mean to be pessimistic, but really – I don’t know why it has to happen this way. It’s just so discouraging. In fact, I can’t understand…

"Psst. Sharon."

As I was saying, I can’t understand…

"Sharon. Listen to Me."

Huh?! Is that You, Lord?

"Yes. I have something to say to you."

Me, Lord? Am I in trouble?

"No, not in a punishment kind of way. But yes, in a forgetting something kind of way."

What have I forgotten?

"The second part of the verse. That’s not all I said, you know."

Oh…

Right…

The second part of the verse. The best part of the verse!

"But take heart, because I have OVERCOME the world." (John 16:33)

It’s a word I have to hear in my head, and believe in my heart, over and over and over again. HIS Word –

Take courage. You will not be alone. I will not abandon you. I understand what you’re going through. “Stuff” happened to Me, too. But I won the victory. I conquered death.

YES!!

He was crucified and died – BOO.

But He rose again – YAY!

And you know what?! In that moment, the “other shoe” dropped on the devil! He thought things were going great. He thought he had killed the Son of God. He thought he owned all the authority on earth now. He thought we belonged to him – finally.

BOOM!

Did his heart quake? Did his knees tremble? Did his snarly little sneer turn upside down? Did he look over his shoulder and see a stone tumbled away? Did he hear the shoe drop?

Jesus won.

In this life, there will always be shoes. But we are not ruled by “Murphy’s Law.” We are kept in the hands of The Lawgiver Himself. He brings victory out of defeat. He brings joy out of sorrow. He brings peace out of turmoil. He brings life out of death.

He wears the shoes – and when we are too tired to walk – He carries us.

YAY!

BLOG = “Blessedly Leaning On God!”