About the Author

Jennifer Dukes Lee is the author of several books, including Growing Slow. She and her husband live on the family farm, raising crops, pigs, and two humans. She’s a fan of dark chocolate, emojis, eighties music, bright lipstick, and Netflix binges. She wants to live life in such a way...

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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Comments

  1. Jennifer, I love this reminder. Thank you for sharing it! And the line from It’s All Under Control…I remind myself of that line quite often. I think it is on page 12 or 13! Oh, and leopard print with a slight heel would look great in you! 😉

    • You know I had to get in some leopard print. I would suggest that the Bible should have read leopard print, instead of iron, but I’m pretty sure God doesn’t make typos. 🙂

      Thanks for the encouragement.

  2. I loved this! It’s a message that I need to hear over and over again, especially when it comes to being a parent. I want so desperately to protect my daughter from all harm, but I know that I need to put her care in the arms of God.

    • Elizabeth, As a mom of two daughters, I empathize with your comment so much. When I am tempted to rescue and protect and fix, I keep reminding myself: “Jennifer, you wanted your daughters to learn to rely on JESUS, not their mother.”

  3. Jennifer,
    Just another reason I prefer KJV bible! It was what I was raised with. My dad was a Christian minister and this is what I can understand. My father passed away over 12 years ago, but I still have his bible. I still read and understand this version. Thanks for sharing your wonderful story.

  4. Thank you for your honesty, it is good to know I am not the only one fearful of the uncertainties of this life! Whew! I am thankful for your transparent heart because He knows it anyway! Thankful that our wonderful Father has provided the “ shoes” and the strength we need for each day as His grace is sufficient! Wonderful post Jennifer!

    • Hi Darlene, You definitely aren’t alone. Sometimes I am surprised at how I can move from God-fidence and deep trust, to knee-shaking moments of fear. So glad that God holds us close, no matter how “together” or “un-together” we happen to be.

  5. Thank you so much for your article. It was exactly what I needed after a birthday when I received a beautiful healing from God during my counseling session with a Christian man and then all hell broke loose as people where I live were used by the devourer to attack me. Praise God that I received the beautiful healing. God and I have a joke between us when at age 72 and a lot of trials He allows Satan to attack me. (Thank God that He is in control.) I tell Him that I am strong enough for me and happy to be this strong when I die. Then I cry out to Him for strength.

    • May God protect you and strengthen you in your time of trial, Laurel. Satan is no respecter of persons, is he? He pretty much goes after all of us — regardless of age, position, upbringing. If we are into Jesus, he is “onto” us, but the truth is: God has the ability to kick him OUT. And in fact, the victory is already ours. Amen?

  6. THANKS FOR THE REMINDER THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL AND HAS PROVIDED US EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR THE JOURNEY THAT HE HAS PLANNED FOR US. THIS IS SO POWERFUL!!

  7. Thank you so much for this…I really needed it this morning! I have just reached another “rugged road” section of my journey that I really wasn’t expecting. Thank you for the reminder that God has already equipped me with the strength I need to get through it. And no, you are definitely not the only one with a “habit of asking God to follow the plans I have carefully drawn up for my life”.

  8. “your strength will equal your days”…He provides perfectly. Thank you for the reminder that He will do it. This passage is on my radar now and I intend to let it settle and pass it along. Thank you Jennifer 🙂

  9. Wow – you’re talking right to me, Jennifer! I love the words “your strength will equal your days.” The promise that I won’t run out of God’s grace/strength before I run out of days!

  10. Well spoken, Jennifer! Yes, we all have our doubts at times. I had to reassure (once again) my 95 year old hospice patient that we are saved by God’s grace. We will enter heaven on His merits, not our own. And, yes, her husband is in heaven waiting for her now. And she will go there, when her time comes. Even now, she looks for reassurance, and shoes made of iron.

  11. Thank you so much Jennifer for sharing this post! I really needed to hear this! You really spoke to my heart through our Heavenly Father. Everything on fearing this and fearing that is totally me! I am so broken and have felt so alone. You are truly a blessing. I thank you again ❤️❤️❤️

  12. Hi Jennifer,

    I so relate to everything you said! Thanks for your honesty and the reminder that God is in control.

    Peace and Blessings,

    Tonya

  13. LOVE this picturesque language about God’s provision.
    And that second clause shows up in an old hymn:

    “The protection of His child and treasure
    Is a charge that on Himself He laid.
    ‘As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure.’
    This the pledge to me He made.” (~Day by Day)

  14. We all have all fears Jennifer. I am proud of you for todays reading and writting what you wrote in todays reading. About yours. Mine is about the dark. I can’t go bed with curtains closed at night. I have to have Gods good Night light shining into my bedroom. My husband has got used to it. He remembers after getting into his night close on for bed to pull back the curtains. Let the night light shine in. I don’t know where it has come from. But had it as child. I not afraid of dying as I am saved. I know I will see Jesus all my saved Friends and Family that have gone before me and I look forward too that day in Gods perfect timing when he calls me home. I Pray for thoes of my Family not saved still to see the light in me and want what I have. That is Jesus for themselves. As I am my Husband on my side of the Family are the only ones saved. Sometimes we have put on that pair of boots like you said in todays reading and let Jesus help us climb all the difficult mountains we have to climb life. Even when saved. Yes some will be harder to climb than others and harder to get over. Especially if people have said of done things to hurt us. Or we have lost a love one close to us. Or if it an illness etc. We have to put or boots on and walk each step with Jesus in these times. Know Jesus is with us to help us get through it all. Go to Jesus in prayer. Plus stand on his word the Bible and the Promises in it. Plus put on the Armor of God. Don’t let the Old Devil fill your mind with things that are not of God. Put on praise music. Tell the Old Devil Gods word back to him. It not easy but with our boots on and Jesus help we can climb these mountains and smile again. Thank you for todays reading. Dawn Ferguson-Little xxx

  15. Thank you for this Jennifer. I’ve struggled a lot with fear lately. 2019 was a rough year for me (moving overseas 3x in 1.5 years definitely had it’s toll on me) but now that I’m doing better, I’m struggling a lot with fear & control issues in multiple areas of my life (esp. my relationship with my boyfriend) and I’m just so weary of it! I also feel so annoyed at myself for ‘blocking’ myself like this; I just feel like a mess I guess. I’m trying to trust God and love myself (&my boyfriend) better and will use this blogpost to remind myself of truths. Thank you. And sorry for my whining here!

  16. Jennifer,

    Life gets hard & crazy down here. It can even seem scary at times. One lesson I’ve learned over the years is that God will give us trials, but those trials strengthen us. I’ve had my share of trials & difficulties. They made me more readily able to trust God in each & every situation. Plus I’m more ready than ever to leave this Earth & be with Jesus. So much dissention & sadness down here. Thank you for the interesting take on Deuteronomy 33:25. God knows the journey He has for each of us. He will equip us for that trek. He understands our fear & uncertainty of the future. He will walk along side us the whole way.

    Blessings 🙂

  17. oh my, I needed to hear this today… “thy strengths shall equal the number of your days “ … I used to tell God often, please take me home, I don’t have any more strength to go on … I am afraid sometimes that one more struggle or one more trial, then I will lose my mind as I won’t stand it anymore … But God says “your strengths shall equal your days” … Thank you so much for sharing Jennifer,

  18. Loved this Jennifer! 🙂

    I struggle with fear often… today in fact. I struggle accepting that God has good things for me and instead, I believe the rug will be pulled out from underneath me. It’s gross. And I feel like an absolute hypocrite as I write and speak and encourage women to trust in the kindness and love of our God.

    But God has us write from where we are at in order to show others: 1.) we are human 2.) they are not alone 3.) God is the great redeemer and restorer. I write for others but first of all, my Jesus has me write for me… for my heart and my relationship with Him.

    So thank you for laying it out there and being open! I love it. 🙂 It reminds me I’m not alone and I have a Sister out there who is lacing you her iron shoes with me.

    What a gift!

    Becky Beresford

  19. Jennifer, I was sure you were going to talk about the shoes in the spiritual armor of Ephesians 6! What a happy surprise – I love when things are revealed in scripture. I love to compare the different versions of scripture. Sometimes you find a hidden treasure!

    I especially love that you wrote about wearing these shoes on our journey. I have kind of a “thing,” about talking about our journey.

  20. Thank you for this as I often struggle with fear too. This week I was studying the sandals of peace, in Ephesians. So now, I will picture my sandals of IRON, and how strength is truly rooted in the peace of Christ even when our circumstances are overwhelmingly scary.

  21. Thank you,I’ve been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and battle fear for my future. I’ll hold on to Deuteronomy 33:25

  22. Jennifer,
    I, too, can be a bit bossy. I inform God about my plans for my life. I have also been known to attempt to “bargain” with God. If I do _________, will You, God promise to not ____________. I decide what I can and cannot handle. Thanks for this poignant reminder to relinquish control, utterly rely and depend upon Him, and know that my God given strength will equal my days. His grace is sufficient.
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

  23. So much to love here. You’re not the only one, and I’m glad I’m also not the only one. Now to (lace up? Weld on?) those shoes…

  24. Thank you! This is encouraging. I’m trying harder to hear His voice and see His path. It is difficult. You are natural, real, and nearly a neighbor so I trust your words. Saved on Pinterest w/ your byline and saved the image to hopefully have printed. ♥