Don't Settle For Less-Than-Best | Meekly Loving by Sydney Meek

Don’t Settle For Less-Than-Best

Don't Settle For Less-Than-Best | Meekly Loving by Sydney Meek

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



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11 comments

  1. Funny how running shoes would give you blisters! You’d think that would happen if you walked far in heels or even flat sandals. Loved this post & the Ecclesiastes verse <3 I teared up a little because I struggle with settling for less than best RELATIONSHIPS which can really drag me down sometimes. Thank you for such a lovely written post!

    1. Thanks so much! I’m glad that Jesus was able to speak to you through it!

  2. I needed this reminder. It’s been a long day and my spirit feels rather weary. Thank you for the reminder of Gods providence.

  3. SUCH good stuff! Thanks for the reminder. It’s so easy to go for good-enough in the moment, when it doesn’t actually take a whole lot more do/get more!

  4. We shouldn’t really settle for less than best because our God is great and He made all things for our best. This is a wonderful reminder that aside from not settling for less, we should also give our best in everything that we do and we should do it in love. 🙂

  5. Really, really great post!!! ❤️A great reminder of how we should respond to any situation! God wants us to live vibrant, beautiful lives and in order for us to do that, we can not be settlers! We have to work hard and strive to do our very best in every situation to always bring glory to Him!!!! 💕🙌🏻

  6. Today I’ve been thinking a lot about blogging and the learning process involved. Writing is hard enough, but trying to maneuver the website and social media is gigantic! I needed this reminder to not settle for less than my best effort to learn and grow in this area of my life. God gave me the talent and now he has given me a vehicle to share that talent – it’s time to stop complaining and do my best! Thank you!

  7. Great post! Thank you for reminding that convenience is not always the best policy. Have a wonderful day.

  8. Thank you so much for your post. I totally agree. Funny how small settings can end up with a large baggage (or blisters) to carry around.

  9. I hope your blisters have healed! So true, God wants the best for us, and loves us regardless if we do not take the best for us, but our excuses are holding us back from the best He wants for us!

  10. […] little love notes showing us that He is present with us through everything; like a blister when you accidentally walk 7 miles, or the fear you get when you jump out of an airplane (okay, well that’s not a daily occurrence […]

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