There is something about a good pair of black heels. When you slip them on, your feet and legs automatically look about 300 times better, whatever you are wearing goes from “blah” to “oo-lah-lah”, and most importantly, your attitude completely changes. Sometimes they might kill your feet, but even then, you can’t help but have a small smirk as you walk down the street because you know (well… you like to pretend at least) that all eyes are on you because, let’s face it, you look good.
I got thinking about this earlier today as I was walking through the grocery store after church in my favorite heels and realized that I could really take this once-a-week special confidence somewhere. One of the scripture readings in church this morning was the story of Jesus walking on the water and Peter’s struggle as he first walked on water but quickly doubted and broke the surface as he fell in, reaching out for Jesus and asking for his help.
When I was back at UNCG and in my education classes, they told the girls two key things for when they ended up in the school- if you don’t wear makeup now, start and go buy yourself a good pair of heels. The heels add confidence and take away doubt, a key thing when you are standing in front of a bunch of judgmental teenagers who are just waiting for you to crash and burn. It is that confidence and trust that Peter had as he stepped out of the boat and on to the water. It was as if Peter was wearing the best pair of black heels there was and was walking down the street, eyes looking directly ahead of him and probably shaking his hips just a bit. Then he made the mistake of looking in that big reflective window he was walking by and realized that maybe his hair didn’t look as good as he thought or saw that huge stain on his robe from lunch earlier that day and his confidence was shattered and he crashed into the water.
What happens next? Jesus comments on Peter’s doubt, not in a judgmental way, but more in a way that makes Peter realize that there really wasn’t a reason to. I mean, really, he was walking on water… obviously Jesus had something going on. It’s kinda like when you feel really great about something and then find the one flaw and let it all go- did someone else point out the flaw? Were you criticized in any way? Is it really anything that matters? Trust me, if you are walking down the street in your heels, people are paying attention to your confidence and not the out of place hair or stain at the edge of your shirt. Here is the awesome thing though, just like the heels eventually bring back our confidence and we start up the confidence once again, Jesus reaches out his hand to us and helps us up, just like he did with Peter.
We are expected to doubt, just as we are expected to have one or two flaws in the way we look everyday… if you don’t, then you are lying. We are expected to be unsure of things and ask questions, and we will always fall at some point. The important part is what do you do afterward? Are you going to just take the fall and struggle to stay above the water you were just walking on with the help of Jesus or are you going to recognize that you were only walking on water because of the help of and your confidence in Jesus? Think about Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”… there is never any reason to doubt yourself as long as you have Christ in your life and recognize his work in your life.
I will be the first to admit that I sometimes look to my gorgeous black heels to give me an extra push. All girls can relate that when they liked someone but weren’t quite getting the attention they wanted, they pulled out the heels. Even if the guy doesn’t notice the shoes (because let’s face it, they don’t), he is bound to notice that extra smile or confidence. The same is true when you have God in your life- even if you aren’t walking around with a huge cross around your neck or wearing a “Jesus is my Homeboy” t-shirt, people will notice the extra light in your life through your love and confidence.
So now, go get yourself a pair heels! And guys… I guess a bowtie?? Whatever does it for you, just make sure that WHEN you doubt, you turn to God and let him have control of your life (as he always should) because then and only then will you get back on top of the water where the world can see your awesome heels!
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