Are You Stretching for More of God?
Monday, September 8, 2025 by Melissa McLaughlin

By Melissa McLaughlin

Feeling Cramped

My new sneakers blazed with crisp whiteness. I had set out for a walk in my neighborhood with a bounce in my step. My heart smiled. Mostly because of the price I paid for my new shoes.

Who doesn’t love a good sale? Somehow, I felt like I'd conquered a great foe when buying footwear marked down.

I had discovered the sneakers at a deep discount while passing the clearance table at a nearby store. They resembled my favorite slip-on sneakers that I had purchased at a more reliable store. Thinking they were the same sneakers, I snatched them up and headed to the register.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t until my walk the next morning that I realized the sneaker style and name were ALMOST the same as my old favorites. But not quite.

While moving down the sidewalk, a brief grimace passed across my face. My toes curled. The sneakers felt snug. I assured myself they would stretch out as I walked in them.

With each step, the sneakers crushed my toes. The tight fabric pinched and strapped my feet like a fully expanded blood pressure cuff. Yet, I pressed on.

I insisted to myself that I could withstand the new sneakers until I broke them in. But the truth is, they weren’t large enough. The sneakers didn’t allow room for my toes to stretch or my feet to extend with ease.

These new discounted sneakers were similar to my favorites. But definitely not the same.

After several weeks of squished toes, I finally purchased a new pair of my favorite sneakers. They were on sale. Maybe not at the deep discount of the knockoffs, but still a reasonable price for good-fitting shoes.

This time, my feet smiled when I walked. My toes stretched. My feet felt supported but not constricted. Oh, the joy of feeling free in shoes that aren’t too tight!

Looking back, I wondered how I had convinced myself to continue walking in cramped shoes for so long. Seems crazy now.

Are we stretching for more of God?

This life lesson caused me to think about our spiritual growth.

Are there times when we allow ourselves to keep walking in habits that are holding us back from the Lord? Maybe these patterns are ALMOST helpful, or we just got used to doing it that way.

Are we reaching and stretching for more of God? Or are we settling for second best?

Are we bound by unwise choices from the past that we don’t make the effort to change?

Hebrews 12:1 (ESV) - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any weights or sins that so easily entangle and stick to us. Sometimes, these distractions or habits wrap around us so tightly that we can’t even recognize that they hinder us.

Please pray with me.

Heavenly Father, thank you for rescuing me from sin through the blood of Jesus. You desire good and holy things for me because You love me. Holy Spirit, I lay myself prostrate before You. I surrender to Your sacred search of every part of my life. Show me areas where wrong-thinking, old habits, hidden pride, or sin are restricting my spiritual growth. Go deep with Your divine pruning shears and cut off anything that is not of You. May the manna I received yesterday not be enough for today. Stir up a holy hunger for more of Jesus. Strengthen my heart to say “yes” to Your call to reach and stretch for more of God. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Do you have a memory of good shoes? What helps you grow and stretch in your walk with the Lord?

Jeremiah 17:8 (NASB) - For he will be like a tree planted by the water that extends its roots by a stream, And does not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought, Nor cease to yield fruit.

P.S. Have you read my new award-winning book, The Whole Bible Devotional: Seeing Jesus in Every Book of the Bible? If not, I hope you’ll check it out! It comes with a free downloadable Small Group Study Guide. Makes a great book for small groups or Sunday School classes. Available at Amazon and other major retailers.

Comments

Ashley From Canada At 1/20/2026 9:04:12 PM

A warm and inspiring piece that encourages readers to seek more of God with honest reflection. https://www.lifecoachashleydwille.com/

Reply by: Melissa McLaughlin

Thank you for reading, Ashley. God bless you!

Jessica Brodie From SC At 9/20/2025 6:36:50 PM

Yes to this! I've been there with shoes that don't fit properly, and the analogy with our faith walk reminds me that I need to make sure I am intentional about growing and stretching in the Lord!

Reply by: Melissa McLaughlin

Nothing like the feeling of being able to stretch our bodies. May we be mindful of all the elements that help us stretch our faith! God bless you!

Karen Friday From TN At 9/18/2025 3:16:39 PM

Melissa, when we are filming for our YouTube channel, I've learned that I have to wear comfortable shoes that really support all the walking we may do. In the same way, I don't want to be hindered by the weight that can easily entangle me. Great analogy.

Reply by: Melissa McLaughlin

Thank you for sharing such a great illustration, Karen! By the way, I love your YouTube channel! Very relaxing and refreshing. May God bless you in all you do!

Stephen De La Vega From California, USA At 9/15/2025 2:14:41 PM

So true! An unfitting pair of shoes restricts and hinders us from proper mobility and from extending our stride to accomplish greater things. Your prayer is perfect. Too often I find myself in any one of those restricting and improper situations when I should be stretching and leaning into God.

Reply by: Melissa McLaughlin

Same for me, Stephen. How I long to be stretching for more of the Lord. O God, stir my heart and strengthen my resolve to do what it takes to reach for you! God bless you!

Yvonne Morgan From Oklahoma At 9/13/2025 12:55:03 PM

Ouch, wearing the wrong shoes can hurt, glad you get the right pair. And what a great way to connect with our faith. Loved your message Melissa.

Reply by: Melissa McLaughlin

Comfortable footwear is a huge blessing! Have a blessed week, Yvonne!

Warren From Pennsylvania At 9/9/2025 11:20:40 AM

Let us walk with our feet fitted in the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

Reply by: Melissa McLaughlin

Yes, indeed! Keeping our stride in step with Jesus and His soul-saving Word.

Melissa Henderson From Mount Pleasant SC At 9/9/2025 8:35:52 AM

I love this message. I pray I stretch and reach for Him in every moment. :-) Have a blessed week!

Reply by: Melissa McLaughlin

Thank you, Melissa, for reading and sharing an encouraging word! I pray the same for myself. God bless you and your family!

Spiritual Life

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