A Barefooted Moment
by Mary McIver
“…Your teacher will not hide Himself any more, but your eyes will constantly behold your Teacher. And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when your turn to the left.” (Isaiah 30:20,21 Amplified)
Recently, after a long day at the office, I recall the experience of just walking through the front door of my home. I was greeted by a warm atmosphere, golden oak hardwood floors, and a beautiful mantled fireplace with pictures of family. Within minutes, I sat down to take off a pair of stylish, black boots because my feet were speaking to me, “I’ve had enough!” I unzipped the boot and my husband graciously assisted to pull and tug the boot off to liberate my feet for a breath of fresh air! Next, I pulled off the socks and I remember the moment my feet touched the hardwood floors! My feet were aching that day and they began to hurt so much that I felt like I couldn’t go on. But now finally, I was barefooted. I don’t know about you, but there’s just something about being barefooted, no matter what time of year it is! I said, “Oh, what a relief!”
One morning as I was in my private devotional time with God, I was reading an inspirational story by a Pastor. She stated that the Spirit of God spoke to her and said, “I will show you the way. Walk ye in it.”
She responded “Thank you, Lord, but what about the shoes?” A strange question, but so necessary. Have you found that in your service to the Lord, at times, you wear all different kinds of hats and shoes? Some of those shoes are classy and elegant. Some are light and flat. While yet others are heavy and uncomfortable. Some are steel-tipped and rugged for the job that is required, and some are very uncomfortable and tight. No matter how beautiful the shoes may be to look at or how painful they may be to wear, each pair of shoes is a part of the journey that we are on as we walk with the Master!
Can it really be possible for us to walk in all these different shoes, sometimes changing shoes three or four times a day? You may wear the shoes of a wife, the shoes of a mother, the shoes of a pray-er, the shoes of an administrator, the shoes of a missionary, the shoes of a Pastor, or the shoes of a friend. The list is endless, yet it is possible to change our shoes and roles as often as necessary as we walk with Him! He has promised us that our ears will hear a word behind us saying, “This is the way; walk ye in it”! Our ears will hear as we walk daily into the secret place with Him.
So often we get caught up in the going forth and the “go ye” in the purposes of God that we fail to come and simply commune with Him. It’s so important to “Come” and shut the chamber doors of our heart to everything else except Him! Time with Him is never wasted. I recall a profound statement made by a beautiful, praying woman of God. She said to always remember, it is not in our fleshly efforts of trying and trying and trying to do it ourselves, but all that we need is found in coming to Him. It’s in the waiting upon Him in those chambers, in those secret places, that things begin to flow, we begin to understand, and He shows us the way. As we come, whole realms will be opened to us, each in our own place and situation. Our fleshly efforts will not change it, but in the exchange of His life for ours – all will be made perfect.
So, what about those shoes? When my feet are aching and I feel as though another step can’t be taken, I know that as I abide and live and dwell in Him, I will hear His voice and He will speak to me. I will draw strength even from the whispers of a word He has spoken to me. So, what about those shoes? He will give me the grace to wear even the most uncomfortable ones! And then sometimes, you might just want to pull off those shoes and have a barefooted moment.
