Your Shoes Are Too Tight

God speaks in such creative ways. Recently, I took a weekend retreat, surrounded by walking trails and wide-open spaces. I laced up my hiking boots and set out, eager to explore. For the first hour, I enjoyed the quiet and gentle rhythm of walking and talking with God.

Then my feet started to hurt.

I considered going back to my cabin to change shoes, but I didn’t want to break the serenity of the moment. So, I pressed on—until the pain became impossible to ignore. I turned towards the cabin to fix the problem.

I felt a nudge to sit on the bench a short distance ahead and be still. I sensed the words, “Your shoes are too tight.”  

By then my feet were throbbing. I sat on the bench and immediately began to unlace the boots and kicked them off with annoyance. Again, the thought came stronger this time, “Your shoes are too tight.”

I let out a loud sigh, sat back and said, “Okay, Lord, I’m listening.”  

The Holy Spirit began to teach me.

• When your shoes are too tight, it causes great discomfort.

• However, it’s not a shoe problem – don’t blame the shoes.

• It’s not a foot problem – don’t be grumpy because they are expressing pain.

• The issue is simply that the laces are too tight. Too restrictive.

As I sat, the message settled deeper. My life had become the same way. Travel, preparations, appointments, and responsibilities had become “too tight.” There wasn’t enough breathing room in my days. I was trying to return to a peaceful rhythm but not acknowledging the real issue. My soul was aching from being constricted, just like my feet were.

2 Thessalonians 3:16, Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!

I allowed God to speak into the discomfort. I sat with Him and talked about the loosening and life adjustments needed. I was ready to create space—kicking off the confining expectations I had placed on myself. His correction brought life. It was freeing. Life-giving.

After a time, my heart felt reset. I picked up my boots, loosened the laces, and put them back on – this time with room for my feet to breathe. It wasn’t about changing shoes, it was about walking in the same shoes, but with more space.

• Discomfort can signal something deeper.

• Pause to listen, to sit, to be still.

• Solutions can be simple and profound.

God invites us to make room for Him.

And allow Him to create space to listen.

He teaches the rhythm of grace and peace… at a slower pace.

Leave a comment: What rhythms are you creating? How are you creating space to breathe in this busy season of life?