Pirogue-Sized Peace

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

I have been above average height since childhood. At age 12, I hit my peak height - 5'9. Most adults would express to me how much they would love my height, but for me - a kid in the 7th grade - I just wanted to shrink!

Along with my height came "big" feet - size 10 - which only inspired middle school children to remind me that I had "pirogue feet." I despised shoe shopping. We would see the "cute" average size shoes on display and then they'd bring out my "pirogues" to try on. I guess at an early age, God was inspiring me that we all have the potential to "walk on water."

Today, none of these things bother me. I love being tall and would topple over if I wore a size 6 shoe lol. However, at that young age, I wondered why God couldn't have created me to be one of the average height or petite girls with NORMAL feet!

Have you ever done this with your problems in life? Why couldn't God give me a "normal" life or "normal problems" like so-and-so? Why does it seem like MY problems tower over other people's issues?

I really don't know why certain things - good and bad - happen to some and not others. Of course, some things are a result of sowing and reaping, but some are just totally unmerited.

However, when faced with pirogue-sized problems, God provides pirogue-sized SHOES! God instructs us in Ephesians 6 to put on the full Armor of God, and "For SHOES, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared (vs. 16)."

When you are equipped with the "shoes" of God's peace, you can have power over the tactics of the enemy. Romans 16:20 reminds us, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your FEET."

I challenge you today to always put on your shoes of peace by reading God's Word. It is inevitable that we will all face trials, but we are able to withstand those trials when we are ALREADY clothed in God's peace. We do this by getting to know God through the Bible, church and fellowship with other believers.

Dear Lord, I thank You for the peace that You make readily available to me in Your Word. The more I get to know You, the more confidence I have to face each day.

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.