Tuesday, January 4, 2011

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 shoesand when we are too tired to walkHe carries us.

YAY!


BLOG = “Blessedly Leaning On God!”

10 comments:

  1. Hi Sharon, I love the part about the shoe following on the devils head. At times I can be a bit pessimistic myself but rather than focusing on the trials & troubles that are sure to come, I like how God drew your focus to the victory that has already been won. I'm choosing to focus on victory today!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've been guilty of that thinking as well -- just waiting for disaster to strike! Thankfully, we can overcome that thinking just as we can overcome the troubles thrown at us. With His truth and grace!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yay!!!!

    I just thought that was the most appropriate comment to make here. You know, your blog has an uncanny way of just LIFTING ME UP. I was reading through this feeling all "Debbified" in agreement because I'm always waiting for that other shoe.

    And then, you pulled me in. My heart did that little race thing that it does when I feel more hopeful and energized.

    I'm so glad that I took a break from my day and stopped by.

    Back to purging.
    Boo.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wonderful!
    Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! :)
    What an excellent and hope-inspiring post. I, too, loved when you said that the other shoe dropped on the devil. YAY!

    Blessings, sweet friend. I am leaving here smiling. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Sharon -

    YAY for the end of the book - Revelation - where clearly we WIN - YAY!

    And we don't need to click our shoes like Dorothy in the Wizard of OZ.

    We just need to remain fully armored - with our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace - as per Ephesians 6.

    Shoo devils!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great post and I have been guilty of that too - in fact recently. Doing better though. sandie

    ReplyDelete
  7. He really does turn every situation around. I love the special ways He lets me know He's right here with me when I'm facing trouble. What a savior.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wanda - Something you said triggered a thought for me. We have to CHOOSE to focus on victory. That means sometimes we might not FEEL victorious, but we make the choice (in our will) to BELIEVE the promise of victory already won - and then act like a conquerer!

    Glowin Girl - I'm sorry you feel this way sometimes - but I'm glad I'm not alone! This mindset is really a battle for me. I had an attack of the "fears" just yesterday. Oh, my - it isn't fun - but I read God's Word, and let it sink into those fears. His grace and truth lifted me...

    Debbie - YAY! I'm so glad to hear from you today. It's funny - I had this post pre-scheduled a few days ago. And then, yesterday and last night, I had some MAJOR attacks of fearful thoughts. BOO! I had to read my (God's) words again to "re-arm" for the battle. I'm so glad when what God gives me to say blesses other people - even if the "other person" is sometimes me!

    Kimberly - I just love making people smile!! If you're reading any of my responses to others' comments, you'll know that I needed some hope the last couple of days. Thank the Lord that His Word provides the only HOPE that sustains us through struggles, suffering, fears, and any attacks from that old "stomped on" enemy!

    Sandra - I'm chuckling. You're so clever with words! Revelation is the BEST happy ending I've EVER read! And I love how you said that we also wear shoes that can stomp the enemy! It's part of our armor! Shoo devils - YAY!

    Sandie - I can only imagine that what you've been through lately with your surgery and all, would make you a little more susceptible to getting down. Waiting for another shoe. However, I'm going to ask you to take your new little knee and give "someone" a swift kick outta here - take that, enemy of ours!

    Mary - He is the Author of reversals, isn't He? I'm so glad that He is there in EVERY situation, even when I don't feel Him, even when I can't see Him, even when... He saves.

    One last word to you all - He is there, He cares, and He has OVERCOME! Oh, how that verse thrills me!

    GOD BLESS!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Dear Sharon,

    Thank you for all your very encouraging comments on my blogs and for the words you share here.

    I must say, I had a few boo moments these past couple of days, but the YAY's certainly outweigh the boo's by far!!!

    YAHWEH is gracious! May God protect you. With love and care from Kerrie. xOx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Kerrie - It's always a good thing when the YAY's outnumber the BOO's!! Glad to hear from you, and to know that you and Jaiden are hanging in there! YAHWEH is gracious indeed! When I saw that, I thought of this: "YAY FOR YAHWEH!" Love and care to you, too...

    GOD BLESS!

    ReplyDelete

"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)