SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1302

“The Other Shoe”

Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. – Proverbs 3:25-26

We are a worrisome people. We have idioms passed down through the generations that have become pseudo truths.

We say ‘Bad things come in threes’ and ‘Wait for the other shoe to drop’ anticipating another bad thing to happen to us. Perhaps this is why the Bible exhorts us not to worry and not to fear so often in the Word of God.

• We have experienced losing a job through a layoff in the past and even though we have a new job we cannot help but worry if there will be yet another layoff.
• Our business failed due to an economic downturn or pandemic and although we have regrouped, worry niggles at the back of our mind that it will happen again.
• We have battled cancer and wonder if it will come back.

Do I make plans?

Do I continue to live life to the fullest or mark time, waiting for the other shoe to drop?

Do I live my life like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs? Or do I walk confidently in the courage, power, presence, and protection of the Lord.

Our choice each day is fear or faith, joy or worry. The joy of the Lord is a fruit of the Spirit which strengthens us and the enemy works to steal that joy.

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full; …Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. – John 15:11; Nehemiah 8:10

Living life looking over our shoulder for that next disaster, is no life at all. Jesus came to give us abundant life.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. – John 10:10

The battleground is in our hearts and minds. We can preoccupy ourselves with media hyperbole of possible disasters and play the ‘what if’ game or remain in the Word of God, walking confidently in His abiding presence.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus; Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Philippians 4:6-7; Matthew 6:34

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. – Isaiah 26:3

Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! … He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid … – Psalm 112:1,7-8

When the enemy comes to steal my joy in life, I encourage myself in the Word of God. I remind myself that Jesus has already walked the path before me, and as I walk it, He will go with me. I know that He will never leave me to go it alone therefore, I choose faith over fear and joy over worry.

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed; Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go; The Lord is on my side; I will not fear… – Deuteronomy 31:8; Joshua 1:9; Psalm 118:6

No matter what this world throws at you, forget superstitious idioms, and the lies of the enemy. Feed your spirit continually with the Word of God and live life joyfully to the fullest, abiding in His peace, power, and presence.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea – Psalm 46:1-2