Walking with One Shoe

Have you ever fought insecurity? It seems to creep in at the strangest times. Recently, I attended an event on the other side of our state. Upon arrival, I opened my suitcase to discover I only packed one boot of my oh-so-favorite pairs of boots. With further investigation, I realized I left all my jewelry at home as well. This was one more ingredient to the already brewing threat of insecurity.

But that is not why I lost my sparkle of confidence over the past couple of years. Circumstances combined with menopause eroded away my self-assurance. It was replaced by a shroud of bewilderment and confusion.

On Christmas day of 2021 my sister died of a brain aneurism.  The shock and following grief propelled me into a season of deep uncertainty. A fear lurked on the edges of my consciousness that my time too was running out. I experienced a frantic push to finish what God had planted in my heart before it was too late.

I believe now more than ever; we should live each day to its fullest, not pushed by a fear-based compulsion but in joy, recognizing each day as a gift. We then can pursue God’s plan cheerfully and purposefully.

Paul reminds us of this in Philippians 3:13-14 (CSB) ^“Brothers and sisters, I do not^[ consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.” We recognize the opposite of insecurity is not confidence but security.

My silly shoe example taught me:

1. The author of our call is God. I need to continue to stretch forward in fulfilling His desire for me. Sometimes we need to strain forward, which is not easy. We may need to hobble along in one shoe, so to speak, to continue to run our race.
2. I don’t need to fear not finishing. I can trust Him to see me through it until I complete the race He designed for me. He directs my steps because He is the beginning and the end.
3. He promises a place for me when I finish. The end goal is a reunion with Jesus, and because of Him, I will see my sister again.

I haven’t found my sparkle, but I know I’ve begun to shimmer again as I reach forward pursing God’s plan. Even if means walking with one shoe, I know I am not walking alone. I am secure, even when I’m limping along.

We started with the question: Have you ever fought insecurity? What insecurity can you relinquish in your walk with to God? Believe it is secure in His hands.