You Can Bring the Shoes to Me

“But my toes feel weeiiiirrrdd!” he cried as I adjusted his new sandals. I calmly reassured him that he could change back into his favorite slides as soon as we were done. Our passionate five-year-old was having a rough time adjusting to his new shoes that morning. He was having a difficult time managing all of the changes our family vacation was throwing at him, and I was trying to help. 

As we loaded into our minivan to drive up the mountain, I was already feeling depleted and a little embarrassed. We were vacationing with dear friends that week and they had witnessed the evidence of his discontent.

I leaned my head against the window as my husband steered us up the winding, wooded mountain road. My weary soul needed rest but my mind kept searching for answers that were nowhere to be found.

Letting out a deep sigh, I finally let go of all of my thoughts. And as the blur of trees and streams rushed past, I heard the Lord gently whisper to my heart, “you can bring the shoes to me.”

In my exhausted state I never stopped to ask God.

I find comfort in knowing that even kings have felt overwhelmed. In 2 Kings 18, one king did stop to seek God when it all seemed like too much. Here, we are introduced to a king named Hezekiah, the king of Judah. Hezekiah was different from the previous kings of Judah. In 2 Kings 18:5 we read, “He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him.”

Hezekiah found himself in a situation that left him overwhelmed. He was facing a threat much greater than a meltdown over uncomfortable shoes. When Hezekiah received a threatening letter from his adversary, he took his troubles straight to the one who could help him. 

2 Kings 19:14 tells us “Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord and spread it before the Lord.” ESV

Oh, to be the kind of mother who spreads her struggles out before the Lord. 

Hezekiah’s prayers were not in vain. Through the prophet Isaiah, Hezekiah was informed that God heard his prayer. The king of Assyria would not set foot inside the city walls. In fact he would turn back home, only to be murdered by his own sons (2. Kings 19: 32-37). 

I prayed all the way to the top of the mountain for my sweet son’s struggle that day. When we got to the top, it was as if the shoe problem had never happened! He hopped out of the car, grabbed his daddy’s hand and we headed toward our next adventure. 

I don’t know what has you feeling weary today, but if you lay it out before the Lord, He will hear your prayer too.