This phrase is often associated with a pessimistic worldview that some people struggle with. These types are always anticipating that something bad will happen to them or someone they love. It’s an anxious feeling that is spawned from past negative experiences; often from their childhood, and all too often, from their parents who should have done a better job raising them in the ways of the Lord. Not all of us were raised by believing parents, some of us were raised by wolves. NOTE: A wolf is a non-believer who has earned your trust, be it a parent, spouse, sibling, or parishioner. We all have to choose Christ for ourselves, but many parents just don’t teach their kids about Jesus because they don’t have a relationship with Him. This blog is not about blaming parents for the bad things in your life, rather, it promotes the important role that parents play in the life of their kids. Never underestimate the power of a loving parent; and more so, the loving God.
The Hebrew writer said it this way, “Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening (discipline) seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” – Hebrews 12:9-11
- The message here is that no matter what our experiences in life have been, good or bad, we need to come to a place where we find ourselves in proper subjection to the Lord and live out that faith in Him to the fullest. Our parents did their best, as best they knew what to do for their circumstances; and so must we. We do our best to raise our kids, we appreciate the effort of our parents, but when we become parents, we must wield that role well, for we are shaping a future adult person.
I remember having a conversation with my mother, before she drifted off into dementia land. I told her that I was grateful that she raised me and my sisters in the ways of the Lord. That she did right. My siblings and I benefit from her godly upbringing. She died at 98 and has been with Jesus for the past 3 years. Thanks mom.
We see a lot of dysfunctional families in the Bible; and we can learn from them, that is, what NOT to do. However, over the course of time and experience we will make our own mistakes. Learning to lean on the Lord and trusting in His love and instruction will finetune our faith and lead us in the path of righteousness. It’s in the process of all of this that we experience an array of circumstances that lead to choices that each of us must make in deciding how we will think and respond to that other shoe dropping; if it does.
The idea of the other shoe dropping has more to do with something bad happening right after something good has happened, It’s as if some people can’t appreciate something good happening to them no more than they can accept a genuine compliment from a trusted other, even though they need it desperately. For them, it’s all about being in control and always on guard in life. Their life has taught them that they can’t really trust anyone or anything; even though people do it every day. I trust others will obey the traffic laws. I trust the food that I ordered at the restaurant isn’t going to make me sick. I trust that the chair I am sitting in won’t collapse. I trust that my car will start in the morning so I can get to work on time. The list goes on; suffice it to say, we all live by faith; especially atheists and agnostics, who wager their eternal soul on being right.
Even if the other shoe drops, God has us and He has you too. Most of the time that shoe never drops because the Lord sustains us by His grace. There is so much bad stuff that could have happened to us, that might have happened to us, that will never happen to us because our heavenly Father is good and will continue to watch over us as we traverse through this life. While it’s true that sometimes bad things do happen to people, good people, Christian people; but God promises to go though it with us. He will always be faithful to make it good in the end. My prayer is that God’s hedge of protection will continue to secure us and our families as we press on in these times of vulnerability and uncertainty. That other shoe that may drop might be a nuke; or an invasion, or the collapsing of our economy; but for the believer in Jesus, this ride has a different beginning.
Paul reminds us, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28
In this life their will always be a deficit where fear and worry will always invade places in our lives where they don’t belong. This is when our faith in God must be stronger than our fear of what might happen. In teaching me about faith, my dad once told me an anecdote, ‘One day fear knocked at the door, faith answered it, but there was nobody there.’ The moral of the story has more to do with our faith being stronger than our fear,
One older man said it this way, ‘Most of the things that I feared in my life, never even happened.’ This is probably a greater truth for all of us. I remember being at a minister’s fellowship years ago. I was seated around a table with fellow pastors, and we were listening to an older pastor at our table (now passed) who we loved and respected. He was having a moment among trusted brothers and fellow ministers in the Lord. He shared his heart, saying, ‘I wish I took more chances with the Lord in my ministry. God wants us to take steps of faith and trust Him for the increase. I regret not doing that more.’ He wasn’t being reckless or boastful, rather he just shared how he was feeling at the end of his life and ministry. As he looked back, he realized that he took the safer path, not risking with Jesus, and getting out of the proverbial boat to walk on the stormy waters and such. He was more concerned about the other shoe dropping and not the blessing that came with the first shoe.
The message here is about not really caring if the other shoe drops. If it drops, it drops; there is nothing that we can do about it. All we can do is celebrate the good that God has blessed us with and thank Him for the increase. We just celebrated Thanksgiving this past Thursday. The entire family was around the table and as we ate our food, we all took turns expressing what we were thankful for. All of the comments were centered around what God had done for each of us, some with tears, others with joy, but all gave glory to the Lord. Me being the patriarch of the family, I was very grateful to the Lord for His many bountiful and signal blessings on our lives and family. When my turn came, I said, ‘I am thankful for all of this, and all of this,’ as I moved my hand around the table motioning to my beloved family, and then I raised them up to the Lord.
We can’t live our lives in fear of the other shoe dropping. We must celebrate each day as the Lord intended for us to live it; no matter what the superpower nations of the world threaten to do with their nukes. We were not created to live in fear and trepidation over what might happen. Screw that other shoe, my faith is in Jesus, who has proven Himself time and again.
I end this blog with a thought and a poem that doesn’t rhyme.
In my younger life I tried to be cool, educated, and without mistakes or awkward social moments. I soon realized that I was a fool in a school called life where fools learn to be men of maturity and grace.
The older I got, the more I realized that my journey of faith was centered on Christ and His will for my life. At 60, I have come to the realization that there are fewer days ahead than are behind.
I am living each of those days as best I can, beginning each day with the Lord and walking with Him daily. While I long for the Rapture, I plan for an older death, believing that one day I will finally be with Jesus.
Until that glorious day, each day I live in this place will be lived to the fullest, as a witness unto the Lord. Come what may, I will be faithful to the Lord and His calling on my life; beginning with my family.
One day soon we will all be with Jesus, in His presence, where joy is not achieved through effort, but grace. I challenge you to not look for the other shoe to drop, but celebrate the one that has already been planted.
Keep your eyes on Jesus, and live your life through Him; be a blessing, a good witness, and a faithful follower. For true believers in Christ, when this life is over, it will begin, and forever we will be with the Lord.
Now, I need to get going with my day; there’s a lot to do, and lot to say, and a lot to celebrate. This life is best lived as we walk with Jesus, trusting Him for guidance, and relying on His love in every step.
Maranatha!
Encouragemen is a blog written by Pastor Rob Lee, recently relocated to Northern Missouri. He lives with his wife of 35-years, near their three adult children, their spouses, and children (their grandchildren). Pastor Rob is an Ordained Assemblies of God minister, a Lead Pastor (25+ years), police chaplain, and community advocate. He continues to serve, consult, and disciple men of God, including those who are in the ministry.
Encourage Men 