Journal Entry ~ 03/21/18

14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. - Ephesians 6:14-15

Shoes of peace. Shoes are an important part of armor for the soldier. They allow him to walk over rough terrain and rocky landscape.  I’ll admit, I’m a barefoot person whenever I can be - around the house and in my yard in the warmer seasons, but can you imagine walking your entire day without shoes on?  It would be pretty painful, and you’d have to take your steps slowly and carefully. We’d be pretty distracted by what we’re walking through. Our shoes help us walk through the rough areas without much notice. 

In the same way, our shoes of peace help us to walk through the trials in our lives. Having confidence in who Christ is, and that He reigns supreme over our lives, allows us to enter our trials with a peace that surpasses all understanding. John 16:33 says: I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

We all know trials are coming.  Knowing Christ does not mean we won’t experience pain and heartache - in fact, quite the opposite is true. The bible is full of brokenness.  There are countless examples of fallen people living in a fallen world. Jesus doesn't come to say it will be any easier for us. He doesn't paint us a rosy picture, saying everything will go well for us. He tells us it will be just the opposite. 

The bible confronts us with the reality of the world we live in, it doesn't pretend that everything is going to be easy once we accept Christ. We will have trials - big ones and small ones, short ones and long ones - and it will be hard. But the bible also tells us of a real peace that we can grab hold of - not the kind of peace we find when things are going our way, but a true peace that shows up inexplicably in the face of adversity. It is found in knowing that Our Father is not afraid of or defeated by anything that the enemy may put in front of us. The same power that rose Jesus from the grave lives in us - there is amazing peace in truly accepting that power is in each one of us. There is nothing He cannot defeat. We can walk into the rocky terrain of our trials because we wear the shoes of peace. 


Press on ~ you are loved 💗

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