The Case of the Uncomfortable Shoe.

I realized one day that one of my favorite pairs of sneakers were no longer so enjoyable to wear. The right foot, especially, was having a hard time. I’d take the shoe off and make sure there wasn’t a piece of grit or something in there. Change the socks. Try shifting the insole. And so on. It really wasn’t getting any better. But I soldiered on. Because they were my favorite pair of shoes.

This continued for some time. Till the end of one long day when I kicked my sneakers off and the right shoe flipped over. Something shiny on the bottom of the sole caught my eye. To my surprise, a small screw had become embedded in the sole and was sending the sharp point up toward my foot. Not quite enough to poke through and draw blood, but just enough to make that foot miserable.

Boy did I ever feel smart! All this time I had been trying to manage the discomfort from the top side of the shoe while the source of my misery was coming up from the bottom. And in spite of the discomfort and misery I hadn’t even thought to check the soles.

Solution? I removed the screw and enjoyed the shoe.

You’re probably way ahead of me on the spiritual analogy.

We find ourselves experiencing regular discomfort—perhaps even misery—in some area of our lives. We examine the part that’s irritating us and try to figure out what the trouble is. We may study it extensively. But for the life of us we just can’t seem to get the irritation to settle down so we can enjoy life again.

And then one day the Spirit of God clues us in: “There’s this thing you’re doing,” He seems to say, “and I’m not ok with it.” And all of a sudden we realize we’ve been grieving the Holy Spirit.* It might be on account of what we’re clutching. Or being captivated by. Or enjoying secretly. It could be that slow burn that keeps our jaw clenched. Or that “Don’t even…!” look we’ve mastered.

To get our attention He’s sent His displeasure into our soul like a screw in the sole. But we just keep adjusting the laces or trying thicker socks.

How much better if we’d just learn to say sooner, “Lord, why is this thing hurting? What are You trying to say? Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening.”

*And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30