“Wait! Where is my other sandal?!”

God is a God of fulfilled promises and He always takes care of the details in those promises. I know this. I trust this.

But, just because you know and trust in something, does that mean you are always immediately obedient to that truth?

Go back with me over 3,000 years. The Israelites are slaves in Egypt. God had promised to rescue them from slavery. Moses has been sent as mediator between God and Pharaoh on behalf of God’s people. The plagues have come and gone, and Pharaoh’s heart is still hard. The Lord tells his people, through Moses, what is about to happen. He gives instructions for every, single detail of what we now know as the Passover (Exodus 12:1-30):

Exactly what kind of lamb to be used for sacrifice while paying attention to how much will be needed per person

Exactly when the moment of sacrifice will take place

Exactly how to cover their doorposts with the sacrificial blood of the lamb

Exactly how to cook and eat the sacrifice

Exactly….

As I read this passage, I was struck by one verse in particular. “This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.” (Exodus 12:11)

God is so Faithful. He fulfills His promises. Every single time. The Lord not only told them exactly how to be prepared, but he did it in a way to make sure it was even easy for them to be immediately obedient. Their role in this? Trust and have obedient faith. Wow.

As I ponder this, I found myself wondering what this moment could look like for me if this were to happen today. I found myself chuckling a bit…I picture somewhat of a disheveled woman running around trying to make sure I am following the instructions, exactly:

Researching online the best place to get the best lamb, for the best price – for hours!

Reading the recipe for the preparation of the lamb (over and over) ~ I can’t miss anything!

Going over in my head multiple times a timeline of how to have everything ready so the sacrifice takes place precisely at twilight!

Helping to paint the doorposts – after all, I know I’m not male, but I am still the firstborn ~ let’s not leave anything to chance!

And then this…”Wait! Where is my other sandal? We can’t leave yet, I can’t find my other sandal!!”

I chuckle because I don’t really know why that image is stuck in my head. Me running around, trying to make sure everything is perfect, and then not being able to find the one thing that makes it possible for me to actually GO in the moment God says. I can’t find that darn sandal!

Actually, I do know why that image is the one that came to mind. This is my struggle right now. My works may be large, but my faith is small.

I often act like my doing is going to make a difference in whether or not God’s plan takes place. Wow, again. Lord, please forgive me.

God’s plan is still going to happen whether I have worked hard enough, or prepared enough for it. I may just miss out on great blessings He had prepared for me by trying to work my way into that very blessing.

But…how do I know what He wants?

Sure, we may not have a Moses today, but we have a gift that I would say is much better. We have the perfect, inspired words of the great I AM himself. I am discovering as I spend time with Him through his Word and ask to be shown His character, His will for me, His direction ~ it is there. It’s not always pretty for me, and a lot of times it is painful what I see, but nonetheless, it is there.

One perfect promise after the next.

So, here I am, once more pushing down the desire to be more and do more. Learning ever so slowly to let that beautiful Grace cover me, in all things, in all Promises.

One day at a time, one missing sandal at a time…