A Pebble In Your Shoe

I was talking with a friend today, and she started telling me about this person in her life who was disrespectful, bossy, and caused her much misery. Have you ever been around someone like that? For whatever reason, the person annoys you. Or maybe, the person deliberately is out to get you.

One of my all time favorite movies is EverAfter. It is a Cinderella story with a character named Danielle in the role of Cinderella. She has a wicked stepmother as do all Cinderellas. At one point in the movie, Danielle is pleading with her stepmother. Danielle wants to know if there was ever a time that her stepmother might have loved her. The stepmother replies with a very cruel statement, "How can I love a pebble in my shoe?"

Although this statement is cruel toward the character in the movie, I have thought of this phrase often as I have encountered people. I use it as a litmus test. I recognize when someone has become a "pebble in my shoe" because I can't stop thinking about them and not in a good way. I know you have had a pebble in your shoe. You might get it to move to the side for a moment, but you will feel it again soon. Eventually, you have to take your shoe off and take it out or it will drive you crazy.

Over the years of my life, people have judged me, hurt me, abused me, laughed at me, mistreated me, annoyed me and so on. God has shown me a way to deal with these people that has worked in each case.

The answer is prayer. Pray for them. I have never encountered anyone in my past or present life that I have not been able to forgive and then even love and want the best for--through the power of prayer. Prayer helps me to see these people through the eyes of Jesus. Jesus gives me insight into their hurts and insecurities. He gives me His compassion for them. He helps me to overcome my natural inclination to hold something against them. He supernaturally removes them from my shoe!!

Jesus said in Luke 6:27-28 "But I say to you who hear: 'Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.'

Later in this passage, He says in verse 32, "But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them."

I shared this with my friend not so that she could rely on God to change the person who was driving her crazy. I shared it with her so that my friend would be healthy. So that my friend would have nothing between her and Jesus. I shared it because this practice has never failed in my life. In moments when I have thought that it was impossible to forgive or love someone, God has shown me that "He will give me His strength when I am weak."

Take an inventory, right now. Is their anyone in your life who is a "pebble in your shoe?" If so, start to pray for them and pray for them every time you feel that pebble. I promise you, if you do this, you will see the supernatural power of God.