You have a word from the Lord: Peace. You’re meant to carry this message of hope to others.
Are you ready to go?
Are You a Shoe Girl?
First, she looks for her own shoes. She brings them to me to help her put them on. Then, she looks for my shoes.
I know what that means. She’s preparing to go somewhere. And wants me to go with her.
My granddaughter is not even two yet, but I already know she’s a shoe girl. Glittery shoes. Rain boots. Sandals. It doesn’t matter. She knows they are her ticket to go, go, go. And she wants me to be ready to go, too.
Others need us to be ready to go, too. The world needs something we have.
Are we ready to give it?
As believers, we’ve been given a special gift: peace. We may not always recognize it or appreciate it, but it’s ours.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
John 14:27
How can we give peace to others? What does that look like?
Put on Your Shoes
The apostle Paul gave a list of spiritual armor to the Ephesians. He wrote that shoes are part of our spiritual armor.
“And, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.”
Ephesians 6:15
I prefer to go barefooted. Maybe I’m lazy. It feels good to not be bound by shoes.
Except when it hurts not to have shoes. Walking on hot pavement. Running on rocky terrain. Going anywhere in public. These all require shoes.
If we’re going to move forward with our message of peace, we need to be ready, to have our shoes on.
Isaiah said this:
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.'”
Isaiah 52:7
The Right Shoes
As believers in Jesus, we’ve each been gifted with peace. Not only for ourselves, but to share with others. Peace is a word from the Lord we are to pass around.
Peace includes these refreshing and beautiful truths:
- God is good;
- you are loved;
- you are never alone.
Thanks to Jesus, who is peace Himself, believers are one with God (Ephesians 2:13). And even when we don’t “feel” it, our problems are no longer ours, but His. We still have to stand firm in the battle, but He is already our victory.
And this is a gift we can share with others.
Speak peace:
- To the suffering.
Discovering that there is purpose in our suffering, even when we don’t know what that purpose is, brings peace. - To those in trials.
When things are hard, knowing that this, too, will pass, brings peace. - To chaos.
In the midst of confusion, trusting that Someone can and will eventually untangle all the knots, brings peace.
Be a Messenger of Peace
We can’t solve the problems ourselves. But we can cover them with words of peace, with a message of hope, with the gift of presence.
That’s grace. That’s gospel. That’s Jesus.
Peace is God’s gift to the world. Everybody wants it. We have it. Don’t hoard it.
Pray for grace to give peace to others. Even when you feel afraid or unprepared or unskilled to help others with their troubles, remember that your feet are wearing God’s armor. Let His feet be your feet, and go. Let His words be your words.
Let His peace be your peace.
And when we can’t go in person to deliver a message of peace? Go in prayer.
As we give peace to others, we’ll find more of it for ourselves. Jesus said peacemakers are sons of God (Matthew 5:9). Helping others remember where our help comes from, is a sure way to stay connected to that help ourselves.
When my granddaughter brings me my shoes, I say thank you. I want to be ready to go outside with her. I put them on, and off we go.
You can stay ready, too. Put your shoes on. Carry peace with you everywhere you go.
It’s good news that everyone longs to hear.
Are you a shoe person? Is it easy or hard for you to recognize the peace of Christ in your own storms? To carry to others in their storms?
Please share your thoughts in the comments.
This September we’re looking at what to wear in spiritual battles. See all the posts here on the whole armor of God.
Want more about peace? Read these:
Smiling as I read this right before I go put in my shoes. Thought-provoking, Lisa! Thank you! May we be peace bringers today!
Thanks, Bethany. I still haven’t put on my shoes yet today! :) That’s next.
We went to get Eliza sized for her first pair of shoes yesterday so this made me smile in the best of ways. May I bring His peace wherever I go today. Blessings!
Oh, how fun, Joanne! I bet Eliza looks just lovely in her new shoes. My granddaughter will put on anyone’s shoes that she finds, regardless of size or type. It really makes me laugh. Peace comes easier when we’re laughing, yes? :) Or maybe laughter comes easier when we’re at peace….
Now that I no longer have to dress up for work, most of my shoes these days are running shoes! :) Being always ready to bring peace to others doesn’t leave a lot of room for selfish thoughts and desires, but fills us with Christ’s light and love. Thank you for this much-needed reminder, Lisa.
As much as you run, I imagine you go through a lot of running shoes, Laurie. I learned early on when I used to run that having good shoes was very important for runners. Being appropriately equipped is important for both our physical health and our spiritual health.
I love the illustration of your granddaughter and the shoes, Lisa! (Virginia, like her mother, is always a barefoot girl in the house.) Such good advice for all of us to be ready at a moment’s notice to travel wherever we’re called, bringing the peace of Christ to those in need of it. I think the more peace we share, the more we have ourselves.
Blessings!
I remember when I used to read FlyLady…she taught me how important it was to keep your shoes on during the day, even at home, because it helped you be more productive. She had a valid point. And as I’ve aged, I see its importance in my spiritual life, too.
Virginia sounds like my kind of girl. :)
Love the story and parallel, as well as the scripture to back it up.
Someday we’ll be barefooted… but while we’re here we’re called to carry the load and our feet take the pounding. The feet and hands. Thanks for making me think. And I love that it was inspired by your little one!
So you think we’ll get to stay barefooted in heaven, Floyd? I love that thought. :) But yes, in the meantime, we need extra protection here to carry on our journey.
I’ve got a feeling my sweet little one will teach me lots more lessons in the years to come….
I’ve often said that I grew up barefoot and never got over it. :) I stay barefoot inside, but you’re right, there are many things we can’t do without shoes on. Taking shoes off, to me, means I’m home, so maybe we will be barefoot when we’re finally to our eternal home. :) And putting shoes on means it’s time to go. I love that your granddaughter loves to go and have you go with her, too. Maybe we always be ready to go where needed and share His peace.
So far at this age, her “going” mainly means just stepping outside. :) She’ll learn later that Granna actually has a car and can drive her places.
But going outside brings opportunities to step into pain or the need to run or all kinds of potential trials AND joys that we need have our feet (and bodies and souls) ready to handle. I don’t have a lot of shoes, but I am grateful for the ones I do have that prepare me for the world in ways that my bare feet can’t handle. Yes, I look forward to the day we won’t need shoes at all and can go barefoot everywhere. :)
I love those verses about carrying the peace of God with us. Thank you for this reminder, as I prepare for a Doctor’s appt tomorrow. God is waiting to give me HIS peace as I put on my shoes to prepare! Blessings to you!
Praying that you feel His peace before you, in front of you, and inside of you tomorrow as you walk into the doctor’s office, Bettie! Praying for good news.
Definitely a lover of shoes—and I so appreciate this reminder to go and bring peace to others. Thanks for sharing, Lisa! Stopping by from #faithnfriends
If you’re a lover of shoes, you’d probably be disappointed if you looked in my closet. ha. My shoe game is poor. :) I could learn a lot from you, both about shoes and about sharing faith. Thanks for stopping by, Laura!
Great analogy!
I, too, am a barefoot girl. Taking off my shoes at home means I’m done for the day. But spiritually, I need to leave those shoes on so I’m ready for any opportunity that comes my way.
Yes, there’s something about taking off our shoes that is a signal to ourselves and the world that we’re finished. :) But I also agree with you that our opportunities here aren’t finished and we need to stay prepared. Thanks, Jerralea.
I love this post, Lisa! I’m a shoe girl–peep toe heels, booties, calf length boots, strappy heels. But, the most important shoes I wear are the shoes of peace. Oh, how I pray I remember to lace those on each day that I might be equipped to share hope with others! Thank you for this beautiful post! Blessings, Tammy
You could really improve my shoe game, Tammy. :) I like to go shopping with my daughters because they guide me in the right direction; sounds like you know your stuff too. But you’re right that the most important shoes are PEACE. Those aren’t always easy to get the perfect fit, but they are the ones that count the most. Blessings to you, too!
This is good, Lisa! ‘Carry peace wherever you go.’ I wear my flip flops throughout my home, maybe I should start there by making show that I bring a sprinkling of peace to each interaction. Then when I change my shoes to leave my home, I must remember to keep walking with peace. What a difference God’s peace can make.
I’m a flip-flop girl myself; I dread winter coming on because my flip-flops will be too cold to wear outside.
Maybe we need a little sticker we can see on the bottom of our shoes that has a peace sign. :) Then we’d remember! Yes, God’s peace makes all the difference in our own lives and in the lives of those we come in contact with. Thanks, Carlie.
Thanks for this analogy. I can definitely relate!
My youngest is about a year and a half. He can clearly say a few words, (mama, dada, MoreMoreMore, etc,) but my favorites are ‘book’ ‘shoes’ and ‘walk!’
I may have no desire to put shoes on and go out where the feels like temp is nearly 100, but I am learning all kinds of lessons and biblical Parallels as we go for these precious walks. I normally walk to get somewhere, or for exercise. Now it’s all about the journey. The special rock, the amazing edge of the road that’s 1/2 an inch lower than the pavement…
Makes me wonder how much I am missing in my desire to get somewhere.
Putting my shoes on and going out brings peace every time. He can be screaming about anything, abd as soon as he hears or sees shoes, he is calm and ready to explore!
That’s the same age as my granddaughter–I also hear quite often “more more more”. :) I love how God can teach us so many lessons through the youngest toddlers through the oldest great-grandparents, if we’re ready to notice. This: “the amazing edge of the road” – you’re obviously paying attention. Way to go, young mom!
All God’s children got shoes, gonna walk all over God’s heaven. I like barefoot too, but I am a boot girl. Shoes often appear in our dreams too and can represent many things, peace is one. I always encourage people to use caution with dream interpretation but God does speak through them, for example a dream of combat boots might be spiritual warfare, and ice skates, gliding over a problem. Peace is our gift from Jesus and the enemy doesn’t want us to enjoy it.Great post, Lisa.
I wonder what flip-flops might mean! :) That’s my favorite shoe. “Peace is our gift from Jesus” – I so agree with you, and I want to learn to tap into it more and more. God is honored when we appreciate and use his gifts.
Our grandson is a shoe expert ;). I’ve learned (through cancer and mental illness, especially) that my peace is not from me or anything I do. It’s all about God and the Holy Spirit. During Pedro’s cancer, I was strangely peaceful. I knew that God had his hand on my shoulder and would guide me where I needed to go.
I love that picture of God having his hand on your shoulder, showing you where to go next. It reminds me of the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night that the Hebrews had when they were being led through the wilderness. I’ve often thought how awesome that would be!
But you’re right that we DO have that now; we just have to be aware of God’s presence in our lives. And that presence IS peace. Thanks for sharing this, Anita! You got me thinking even more. :)
So between your grandson and my granddaughter, they could fill quite the closet with shoes! lol.
This world really needs the peace that only God can give, doesn’t it! I love your illustration. It brought back memories of my youngest granddaughter at that age.
Yes, Donna. I wish God would just rain down peace everywhere, all the time, like manna. But instead He is counting on us to take it with us everywhere we go. May we live up to the charge!