The Sheer Sweetness of Swollen Ankles: Why I Marvel at God's Chosen Burden
Okay, okay, I know what you're thinking. Swollen ankles? What’s sweet about that? And honestly, when mine start puffing up after a long day of chasing after the kiddos or a weekend of helping out at the church picnic, I’m not exactly feeling the joy. But lately, I've been finding a really strange kind of peace in these little physical discomforts, and it all comes back to how I see God working in the really, really inconvenient parts of life.
It got me thinking about the burdens we carry. Physically, emotionally, spiritually – they’re all there. We’re not promised an easy ride, right? Jesus himself said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) The *rest*, He promises. Not necessarily the removal of the burdens. That really struck me.
You see, I’ve always had these reoccurring ankle issues, probably from years of my less-than-graceful attempts at basketball. And it’s always when I’m trying to do the most. Like last month, we had this huge fundraiser bake sale at church. I was on my feet for nearly 12 hours straight, baking, setting up, helping with sales – you name it. By the time I got home, my ankles looked like they belonged to an elephant. I remember just sinking into the couch, feeling completely defeated, and a little sorry for myself. Then, I looked down at my swollen ankles, and for some reason, I was reminded of the Israelites trekking through the desert.
They walked for *forty years,* can you imagine? Forty years of trudging through sand, probably with swollen feet, carrying everything they owned. They were burdened, but they were also on a journey to the Promised Land. That verse from Deuteronomy popped into my head, “The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.” (Deuteronomy 2:7) They didn’t lack anything! Even with all those trials, God provided.
It made me realize that my swollen ankles, my physical discomfort, wasn't a punishment or some kind of cosmic joke. It was a tiny reminder that sometimes God allows us to carry burdens, not to make us suffer, but to show us His strength. The struggle itself, the inconvenience of the puffiness, the slight ache, it all kinda forces me to rely on Him more. It makes me slower, more mindful, and honestly, a little more humble.
I mean, who wants to be slow and uncomfortable? But there's something about it that brings me back to God in a really intentional way. And it’s not just physical. It’s the same with my emotional burdens. The worries about my kids’ futures, the financial strains, the relationship hiccups. It all feels like a weight on my shoulders, but that’s where I find myself leaning into God’s promises, finding my strength in the discomfort. It’s like the apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:9, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I think those puffy ankles are a perfect illustration of that. It’s in the weakness of the swelling, that I feel God’s grace, His hand, holding me up.
I see this in my daily life too. When I'm feeling weak, physically or mentally, and I have to rely on God to see me through, I find an unexpected sweetness there. It's a reminder that my strength isn't my own, but it comes from Him. It's like the burden is there to push me closer. And that's why I’ve come to see even swollen ankles as a sort of bizarre blessing. It's an odd, uncomfortable, beautiful reminder of God's constant presence in our lives, even in the frustrating bits.
So, next time you're dealing with a burden, whether it's physical, emotional, or spiritual, take a moment to reflect. Maybe God’s got something sweet for you right in the middle of it, a reminder that even in discomfort, He’s right there with you.
What "burden" in your life might actually be leading you closer to God?