I felt I should re-post this blog that I wrote October 6, 2014 because this post continuously shows up as being searched on my blog. I hope this will be a blessing to someone today.

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Isaiah 40:28-31 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

I’m reminded of Peter Jenkins’ wonderful account of his journey by foot across the United States. Peter talked about how the big things like being stabbed, snake bites, robbery and being hit by a car as not being a reason to quit. However, the one recurring thing that almost made him quit was the build up of sand in his shoes.

Sand in his shoes caused immense discomfort due to the slow grinding against the soles of his feet. Over time the wear and tear of the sand began to take a toll on his will to complete the journey. Isn’t that how the worries of life affect us spiritually? Often times it isn’t the big things that wear us down spiritually, but the little things that accumulate over days, months even years that threaten to take us out.

The little things like an unforgiving spirit, not being strong in God’s Grace, sin, the pull of the world and hurt feelings can slowly eat away at our spiritual health. The Apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” This is a wonderful passage of scripture because Paul acknowledges  key words that are part of our Christian walk like proper time, reap a harvest, doing good, do not give up and do not become weary.

The little things that cause us long-term pain must be taken seriously or they will continue to slip under the radar of our spiritual well-being. We must first be honest with where we are spiritually then be honest with God and others. I believe we are to be honest with self first because this acknowledges that we have a problem and God is the solution.

What issues in your life have left sand in your shoes? Is it an unforgiving spirit, not being strong in God’s Grace, sin, the pull of the world or hurt feelings. Whatever sand is in your shoes today, I want to encourage you by pointing your heart to Hebrews 12:2 which says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus is the only one who can repair a weary spirit due to all that burdens us. Jesus is the way the truth and the life (John 14:16). Commit your shoes to him, for He will remove the sand that causes the pain and replace it with the new soles of life.

My prayer,

Father, we honor and worship you today for you are worthy. Thank you for always being our Father, mother and way maker. Father, we ask that you help us to acknowledge the sand in our shoes. Help us to acknowledge what burdens us. What keeps us up at night. What weakens the grace in which we believe and walk in. Father, create in us a new heart and spirit that will be fresh with zeal for you and a love for the race set before us. Give us new shoes to walk in that will last for the walk you have predestined for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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