Tiny Irritating Rock

The other day, I was at school teaching. I had been teaching for a little while when I finally became really annoyed by this tiny irritating rock in my shoe. It had been there for a while but yet it didn’t seem to bother me at first. Then it was like all of a sudden this tiny little pebble in my shoe became really annoying and bothersome. But did I take the time to take it out of my shoe? No. In fact, I kept walking around with this tiny little annoyance in my shoe for quite some time.

I wasn’t even wearing “complicated shoes”… You know, the kind of shoes that you have to take the time to tie and untie and loosen before you can get them on and off. Nope. I was just wearing little ol’ flats. Easy slip on and off flats. It would have taken me just a few seconds to take off my shoe and get rid of the tiny rock but I didn’t do it. I just kept walking around absolutely irritated and annoyed.

Finally, after a few hours, I decided I’d had enough. I took off my shoe and by this time expected to find a decent size rock but found a teeny tiny speck of a rock. That teeny tiny thing caused so much irritation and made things so uncomfortable. And yes…it literally took me a few tiny seconds to get rid of it.

Awwww…relief!!!

That’s when it came to me. Have you ever had anything show up in your life that just really irritated and bothered you? (And no I’m not talking about your spouse or kids…lol) I’m talking about a situation that has shown up and has just really been bothering you? Maybe it was a comment from someone that really hurt deep. Maybe it was something you felt like you did or didn’t do but you know you should or shouldn’t have done. Maybe it’s that friendship that took a wrong turn. Maybe it’s a disagreement with your spouse or child. Maybe it’s the coworker that you just can’t seem to please no matter how hard you try. Maybe it’s the negative self talk that you just can’t seem to shake in your own head. Maybe it’s the sin habit you feel like you just can’t get rid of. Maybe its…. (You fill in the blank).

There are many things that can show up in our life that we just feel like “irritate” or “annoy” us. Some we have created and some have been caused by others. But here’s the thing. We don’t have to keep letting them bother us or take hold of us. We simply need to find a way to get rid of those tiny annoyances. Problems. Even sins that keep “irritating” us.

How? I’m glad you asked.

We lay them at the feet of Jesus through the power of prayer. We ask Him to help remove the tiny “rock” from our life. To help us overcome that sin that just won’t go away. We ask Him to help us mend relationships that need to be mended. To forgive. To renew our mindset. To help us let go of anything that keeps holding us back.

Once we get rid of the irritating “rocks” in our life, we will find that there is huge relief and freedom to keep going and doing all that God has called us to do.

You have a choice. You can get rid of the tiny irritating “rock” in your life or you can keep walking around pretending that it’s not there or annoying you. It’s a choice. Just like I had a choice to allow that tiny pebble to keep irritating me or to finally get rid of it. Once we get rid of it, there’s so much peace and comfort that will come our way!! Will you join me on this “Joyful Pursuit” and help get rid of these tiny “rocks” that keep holding us back?