The blog’s title is from a childhood story—not just a Taylor Swift song. The story is about a farmer with an old mule. One day, the mule fell into the farmer’s well. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the hassle of saving.
Instead, he gathered his mates and told them what had happened, enlisting their help to haul soil to bury the old mule in the well and relieve its misery. Initially, the old mule was in a right state of panic! But then, a thought struck him as the farmer and his mates shovelled soil. It dawned on him that every time a load of soil hit his back, he should shake it off, not letting it weigh him down, and step up, using it as a platform to rise higher. And that’s what he did, blow after blow.
“Shake it off and step up… shake it off and step up… shake it off and step up!” the mule chanted to motivate himself. No matter how painful the blows or distressing the situation seemed, the mule fought panic and kept shaking it off and stepping up!
It didn’t take long for the old mule, battered and exhausted, to stroll triumphantly over the wall of that well! What seemed like it would bury him instead freed him, all because of how he handled his adversity. This is a powerful reminder that our challenges can lead to incredible growth and transformation when faced with courage and faith. The challenges that seem to bury us often hold the potential to benefit us—and others.
Shake Off
As we begin a New Year, I encourage you to shake off the following:
- Shame: the things that embarrassed or discredited you.
- Failures: As Zig Ziggler said, “Failure is an event, not a person!”
- Hurts: Is this year the time we finally end nursing what upset us?
- Regrets: Will they define, confine, or refine us?
- Successes: It may sound strange, but some past achievements can hinder future progress.
Step Up
Here are a few valuable suggestions that can help us shake these things off and step up:
Closure: Write down the things you want to shake off and then burn or bury the piece of paper or create your own ritual to separate yourself from them.
Forgiveness: Relinquish your desire to get even.
Resolve: New habits develop through perseverance. It’s not always easy to shake off our past and step up, but with determination and commitment, we can create new habits and attitudes to help us overcome our challenges and grow stronger.
Rely: on God and others. (James 5:16; John 15:5, Phil 4:13, Eph 6:10). Ask the Holy Spirit to give you strength daily. Remember, with God’s strength, we can overcome any obstacle, and with His guidance, we can find the courage to shake off our burdens and step up.
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is shaking it off and stepping up. See your troubles as stepping stones instead of tombstones.
The Scriptures
Sacred scripture is replete with the stories of people who experienced all kinds of trouble. God’s people are not exempt from life’s trials. I encourage you to read the accounts of people like Paul and Silas, who were imprisoned while serving God, or Jeremiah, who was put into a well and left to die because people didn’t like his insights. Then there’s Joseph, who was rejected, falsely accused, abandoned and overlooked before being made Egypt’s prime minister.
During Egypt’s seven years of plenty, God blessed Joseph and his wife with two sons whom Joseph gave Hebrew names:
Manasseh means “Causing to forget.” Joseph said, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.”
Ephraim means “double fruit.” Joseph said, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”
Never Forget
Scripture teaches us some vital lessons that we’d do well to remember, especially when life is challenging:
- God is never unfaithful or unkind, even when circumstances seem otherwise.
- God’s promises are true in His timing, not ours.
- We aren’t responsible for the behaviour or attitudes of others, but we are accountable for our own!
- God’s grace is always sufficient for every situation!
- God is always present, even when you feel abandoned.
In his study on Joseph, Pastor Keith Krell wrote, “If Joseph hadn’t served the cupbearer and baker, he would have never heard and interpreted their dreams. If he hadn’t interpreted their dreams, he would have never interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams. And if he hadn’t interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams, he would have never been placed in a position to deliver God’s people. And if he hadn’t delivered God’s people, the Messiah never would have come to save us from our sins! Remarkably, our salvation was, in part, tied to Joseph’s willingness to serve his fellow prisoners when others may have been swirling in depression, asking, “Why me, God?”
What future blessing depends on our willingness to shake it off and step up?
