So my husband and I were dog-sitting last week, and I decided to take the dog for a walk. Instead of grabbing my good tennis shoes, I settled for a less-than-best pair because they were the first ones I saw. I wasn’t planning on running anyways, just walking, so I should have been fine, right?

I was absolutely wrong.

Before I knew it we had walked 3.5 miles and were pretty worn out. We took a break at the park for a while, and then I realized we had to walk ANOTHER 3.5 miles back home. That’s a total of 7 miles!!! What on earth was I thinking? Little did I know the worst blisters I’ve ever had in my life were forming on the bottoms of my feet, and if you can imagine my feet were sore the rest of the day and next couple of days.

So what on earth does this story have to do with you?

Well let me stretch this a little bit…

Sometimes we settle for “less-than-best” and think it’s okay. Sometimes we think it’s a good or even better idea because it’s easier, more convenient or whatever other excuse we can make. We don’t think about the struggles (or blisters) that are heading our way because of our decision to settle for the less-than-best option.

You’ve probably heard the expression, “take the road less traveled by,” referring to The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost.

I personally like to think the idea sprouted from the following verses:

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” – Matthew 7:13-14

Maybe you’re settling for the
less-than-best apology,
less-than-best self-performance,
less-than-best work ethic,
less-than-best treatment of others,
less-than-best friendship
or less-than-best relationship.

I know there are going to be other factors relating to some of these, but for the most part – stop making excuses and stop accepting “good enough.” Every day we are confronted with decisions where we need to either give our best or settle, and I’m challenging you to take the narrow route. Don’t settle for the less-than-best shoes just because they’re convenient. Don’t take the easy route when you are capable of reaching something so much better. Stand up, make a change, go the extra mile (but not 7), put in 110% effort, and take a leap of faith because God is on your side: all you have to do is ask for help.

If God can move mountains, part seas, and feed 5,000 people with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, then He can give you the strength to endure whatever it is you’re going through and give you strength to accomplish even more.

So next time you think about settling for the convenient, less-than-best pair of shoes to grab when you take your dog for a walk, remember that God calls us to do our best:

“Whatever you do, work heartily…” – Colossians 3:23

“Whatever your hands find to do, do it with your might…” – Ecclesiastes 9:10

----- LET'S KEEP IN TOUCH -----
Subscribe to my newsletter HERE.