The Phantom Foot Pain
Read The Daily:
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10
You know, sometimes I feel like I’m faking it. Like, I’m walking around, trying to act like everything’s fine, but inside, there’s this weird ache. The other night, after a long day, I woke up at 4 AM convinced my foot was broken. It hurt so bad! But then, there’s a chance the next morning it will be fine. Nothing. Zero pain. It was like a phantom ache, something I *felt* but wasn’t actually *there*. It’s easy to feel like that about our lives, right? Like things are broken, or messed up, or just not what they should be. We carry these phantom pains, these worries that feel so real, even when the actual problem isn’t there anymore.
But here’s the thing we all need to be reminded of: God doesn’t see us as broken. He sees us as a masterpiece. He created us brand new in Christ Jesus. That’s not just a nice thought; it’s the foundation. It means that even when we feel those phantom pains, those moments of doubt or inadequacy, God’s perspective is different. He’s already done the work to make us new, to restore us. He’s not looking at our current state and saying, ‘Yep, that’s a mess.’ He’s looking at the finished product, the masterpiece He designed.
So, what do we do with those phantom pains? We can choose to believe God’s assessment over our own feelings. We are His masterpiece, created for good things He planned. That doesn’t mean life will be perfect, or that we won’t have moments of doubt. But it means we can shift our focus from the ache to the artistry. We can trust that He’s working, even when we can’t feel it, and that the ‘good things’ He planned are still unfolding.
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Prayer for the Day
God what are you showing me? What am I going to do about it?
God help me to see one person that I can serve through a kind word, random act of kindness, or simple gift today?
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Read The New Testament In A Year
He continued according to plan, traveled to town after town, village after village, preaching God’s kingdom, spreading the Message. The Twelve were with him. There were also some women in their company who had been healed of various evil afflictions and illnesses: Mary, the one called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod’s manager; and Susanna–along with many others who used their considerable means to provide for the company. As they went from town to town, a lot of people joined in and traveled along. He addressed them, using this story: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. Some of it fell on the road; it was tramped down and the birds ate it. Other seed fell in the gravel; it sprouted, but withered because it didn’t have good roots. Other seed fell in the weeds; the weeds grew with it and strangled it. Other seed fell in rich earth and produced a bumper crop. “Are you listening to this? Really listening?” His disciples asked, “Why did you tell this story?” He said, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom–you know how it works. There are others who need stories. But even with stories some of them aren’t going to get it: Their eyes are open but don’t see a thing, Their ears are open but don’t hear a thing. “This story is about some of those people. The seed is the Word of God. The seeds on the road are those who hear the Word, but no sooner do they hear it than the Devil snatches it from them so they won’t believe and be saved. “The seeds in the gravel are those who hear with enthusiasm, but the enthusiasm doesn’t go very deep. It’s only another fad, and the moment there’s trouble it’s gone. “And the seed that fell in the weeds–well, these are the ones who hear, but then the seed is crowded out and nothing comes of it as they go about their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun. Luke 8:1-14
Are you now going to accuse me of being flip with my promises because it didn’t work out? Do you think I talk out of both sides of my mouth–a glib yes one moment, a glib no the next? Well, you’re wrong. I try to be as true to my word as God is to his. Our word to you wasn’t a careless yes canceled by an indifferent no. How could it be? When Silas and Timothy and I proclaimed the Son of God among you, did you pick up on any yes-and-no, on-again, off-again waffling? Wasn’t it a clean, strong Yes? Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge–a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete. Now, are you ready for the real reason I didn’t visit you in Corinth? As God is my witness, the only reason I didn’t come was to spare you pain. I was being considerate of you, not indifferent, not manipulative. We’re not in charge of how you live out the faith, looking over your shoulders, suspiciously critical. We’re partners, working alongside you, joyfully expectant. I know that you stand by your own faith, not by ours. 2 Corinthians 1:17-24