Faith in Flats

I was cleaning out my closet over the weekend when I stumbled across a pair of pointy-toed stiletto heels tucked in the back, glossy, elegant, and unapologetically bold. I hadn’t seen them in a while and just holding them brought back memories. I turned them over in my hands and smiled, remembering how I used to walk confidently in those heels, striding into meetings, events, and new seasons of life with a certain kind of youthful fire. Now? I can barely take two steps in them without wobbling.

For just a moment, a twinge of sadness washed over me. Aging has a way of sneaking up on us: softening our strength, slowing our steps, surprising us in quiet, unguarded moments. It sometimes feels like waking up in a different body… one that’s a little less agile, a little more lived-in.

I looked across the room at the shoes I wear now: flats. Comfortable, practical, reliable. Not flashy, but steady. Not stylish, but strong. Worn in by long days of errands, ministry, and moments that matter. And that’s when it hit me: Those stilettos were a time capsule. A reminder of who I was and how far God has brought me.

I may not dress as fashionably as I once did. My mornings may start with collagen powder instead of lip gloss. But these feet? These feet now walk longer distances and on more meaningful roads. They carry the Good News. They show up for family and friends. They pace hospital halls, climb playgrounds, stand behind pulpits, and kneel in prayer. These feet keep going when life gets hard… and they do it in flats.

Honoring the Woman I Was… and the Woman I Am

As I held those heels, I didn’t feel the urge to put them on again. I didn’t feel shame for growing older or for being more comfortable than chic. I felt grateful. I saw those shoes not as a standard I had fallen from, but as a symbol of a season I once lived. I kept them, not to chase the woman I used to be, but to honor her. She was full of dreams, full of questions, full of untested courage. And I love her for that. But I love the woman I am today even more, because by God’s grace, I’m living out those dreams now. Maybe not in the way I imagined or dressed for, but in real, honest, often imperfect, beautifully grounded ways. And I bet I’m not the only one.

What “heels” from your past are you tempted to measure yourself against? Instead of longing for the version of yourself you used to be, ask God to help you see the beauty and the purpose of the woman you are today.

Maybe you’ve traded stilettos for sneakers. Maybe your makeup routine is simpler, your nights are quieter, or your calendar more intentional. That’s okay.

God isn’t asking you to be who you were. He’s inviting you to walk confidently in who you are now, right where He’s placed you.

And flats? They’ll get you there just fine.