Have you heard of those shoes that you slip into? The shoe company that makes them, you probably know who, suggests that they are not only comfortable but easy to put on. You just slip into them. No need to bend over. These shoes differ from traditional “slip-on” shoes. These come with a padded, but sturdy, piece built into the rear of the shoe. Slide your foot past this piece and it is designed to hold the shoe in place above the heel.
I was naturally eager to try out this new shoe. After all, who doesn’t want a shoe that is comfortable and easy to put on? So, off to the shoe store I go. Guess what? Despite the special design, and its claims of comfort, ease and fit, these shoes simply wouldn’t stay on my feet. It so happens that the front of my feet and my toes are wider than the average foot. Complicating matters, I have a pretty narrow heel.
The result of my unusual feet is that I have a hard time finding shoes that fit comfortably. With these new slip-in shoes as an example, when the shoe is wide enough to fit the front of my foot, my heel would slip right out. Even with the special design. As disappointing as this is, I wasn’t surprised. It has happened before and will, I’m certain, happen again.
Why this discourse on shoes and the unusual shape of my feet? It is simply to say that we are different. The saying, “One size fits all” is generally not true when it comes to people. Even when it comes to something as simple as our feet. And the variation is more than just the size of our feet but their shape as well. Just take a look the next time you’re at the beach or pool: you’ll see big feet and little feet, short toes and long toes, thick feet, skinny feet, and wide feet. One simple indicator that we are all different.
God, in His wisdom, has created us in a very detailed and complicated way. On one hand, all people are very much the same. We are all loved creations of God. On the other hand, we are all unique individuals. We have biological differences passed on from our parents, and differences driven by our environment. Things within us and those that are pressed upon us by the world around us. And, of course, we have different needs, feelings, desires and temptations. The amazing thing is that God knows and understands them all.
The Psalmist writes:
You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways. (Psa 139:1-3)
And he continues later,
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be. (Psa 139:13-16)
God is not far off and aloof from us. He is not too busy managing the universe or, as some might believe, just sitting back and watching. No. The Creator of the universe, the awesome and powerful God, still knows each of us intimately. He “knows when I sit and when I rise.” He knows “my thoughts from afar.” He “created my inmost being” and “knit me together in my mother’s womb.” I am awed, just as the psalmist was, that God could know me so well.
It Is not just the psalmist, but Jesus teaches us that God knows us intimately, as well. He said, “even the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Mat 10:30). And, if we look, we see that Jesus’ teaching is within the context of fear. More precisely, who should we fear? Should we be afraid of the world? Those who persecute us, mock us, and mistreat us. Or should we fear God? Putting Him in His rightful place as Lord of the universe and of our own lives. Trusting Him to know what is best for us.
Putting God in His rightful place calms any fear that we have. Whatever happens in this world, we can trust Him because He knows us and cares for us. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care” (Mat 10:29), Jesus says. “So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Mat 10:31).
What do you fear? I don’t know what it is, maybe no one does, but God does. What do you need? I don’t know what it is, maybe no one does, but God does. He knows our fears and our needs and He understands them. When we trust Him, when we hold on to Him each day, we don’t need to fear.
“One size fits all” simply isn’t true for us. We are just too different. But one God does fit all: Our Lord Jesus. He knows us with all of our differences. And He loves us, each of us, individually, you and me. We can rest in Him, knowing He will meet our needs.
Dave Foucar has a passion for teaching God’s word. His first book, “What Do I Say When Asked About Jesus?” is a conversational approach to helping people answer questions about Jesus. The book provides a layman’s perspective on personal evangelism and the basics of the Christian faith. Dave has been married for thirty-six years to the love of his life, Debbie. They have three daughters, two sons-in-law, and two granddaughters. To read more of David’s writing visit his Newsletter.
Image by DeepAi
As a drop of water is one with the ocean, a ray of light one with the sun, even so God and man, Father and son, are one in being. The Scripture reads: “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being.”Acts 17;28.
Your friend- His servant,
Isaac Otieno