Merry & Bright: Rediscover the Peace of AdventSample

Shoes of Peace

“Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. . . . For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared” (Ephesians 6:13, 15, NLT).

“Hey, Lizzie. Can I pull these off?” I called out as my daughter rounded the corner and started toward where I was hunched in the shoe aisle.

Straightening as she approached, we both peered down at the moderately heeled, classic black patent leather pumps with a barely-there sassy iridescent shimmer reminding me of an oil slick on asphalt.

“If I buy them, I think they deserve a name. Maybe Oil Slicks?” I’d never named a pair of shoes before, but these delightful heels cried out for a name.

“Mom, those are awesome. They should be your ‘I don’t listen to mean people’ shoes.”

Startled for half a moment as I processed her words, I pulled her in for a tight, quick hug. “You are right, thank you.” I whispered into her ear before releasing her.

Lizzie’s simple statement realigned my perspective with God’s Word. There is a difference between accountability and honest conversations about where we’ve fallen short and the nasty spew that steals our peace for any number of reasons, almost always having more to do with the other person than with us. And I’d recently allowed my peace to be stolen by nasty spew rather than clinging to the truth of God’s Word.

And while the armor of God is spiritual in nature, my Oil Slicks represent being shod in the peace that comes from knowing the Good News. God’s peace is peace that surpasses all understanding and is freely available for the asking. His peace guards our hearts and minds, no matter the circumstances we walk through. And just as knights donned armor before battle, I wear my Oil Slicks to remember that the peace of God cannot be stolen by circumstance or people.

While I know that my shoes have zero actual power, I am grateful for their tactile reminder nonetheless.

Questions to Ponder: How do you remember the gift of God’s peace? Do you have a Scripture posted on your mirror or fridge? Do you—like me—have a literal pair of shoes you’ve designated as your Ephesians 6 armor shoes? A particular song? A scent? While none of these things themselves bring peace, they can be wonderful tools for turning our hearts and minds back to God and his peace. Pick two or three tools you can use as a constant reminder of God’s peace this Advent season.

We hope you enjoyed this study! For more content from authors Julie, Kendra, and Kristin, and to learn more about The Ruth Experience, please visit http://www.theruthexperience.com or https://www.theruthexperience.com/p/our-book.html.