When You Split Your Jeans and Other Life Problems

Problems. Unfortunately, this life is filled with them. One of my most recent problems had to do with a pair of jeans. These jeans were three years old. They weren’t the most comfy jeans in the world, but they fit. And, I liked them because they were “destructed.”

I put them on last Tuesday, buttoned them up, then bent over to pick something up. I felt something give on the back side, so like any of us would do, I inspected it in our full length mirror. Everything looked normal to me, so I went on my way. (You know where this is going.)

It was a full day. Working from home, tidying up loose ends with preparing for my upcoming writing conference, and crossing things off my list. Later that evening we did our normal Tuesday evening thing, Tuesday Night Trivia, at our local pub/restaurant, then took a brand-new carpet ball table into our daughter and son-in-law’s. (Bill had handmade the entire table as a request from Alissa for an anniversary gift for Morgan.)

It wasn’t until at their home I bent down to play with our granddog, Freddie, that I knew something was terribly wrong on my backside. Alissa shrieked, half with laughter and half with embarrassment… I had split my jeans! What?? Yep, she (and everyone else) could see skin.

I was horrified.

Great. A whole bunch of discombobulated thoughts run through your mind when you realize you split your jeans… and you wore them all day. IN PUBLIC. How did I not see it when I looked in the mirror earlier? Who saw my split jeans (or worse–my skin!) and was appalled? Why didn’t someone tell me until the end of the day? And maybe the worst thought of all… Have I gained weight to the point of now splitting my jeans?

The thing is, this isn’t the first time this has happened to me. Oh no. It also happened on a Thanksgiving trip with my brother’s family years ago. He’s the one that noticed my jeans were split that time. And again, I was horrified. Nice, Julie.

I know I’m not the only one who experiences problems, such as split jeans, in this life.

Even though my situation with my jeans is a bit comical now, in all seriousness, we all experience problems. And, sometimes it’s the dippy ones that trip us up the most. Yes, the big problems in life can be life-altering. They can stop us in our steps and flip our lives upside-down. Most of us know what those are like.

But, sometimes the small annoyances, the daily detours, the inconveniences can wreck me in ways I don’t expect. I can come unglued and lose my cool with these kinds of problems. So, what do we do with these? How do we keep our perspective and our eyes lifted upward when the little problems can overwhelm us?

Friend, we can cling to the hope we have.

Just as in the big problems, we can cling to the hope we have in the smaller ones. Jesus gives us that hope in John. Take a look:

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.

John 16:33 NLT

Friend, I don’t know what problem you’re experiencing today. I wish I could walk with you through it. I would look into your eyes and tell you everything is going to be okay. I’d then love to pray with you. But, even though I’m not by your side today, God is. He is with you. He sees you and sees your problem. Rest assured He is acting on your behalf. To bring good from your situation. Because that’s what He does.

Even through the smaller problems.

Yes, I was sad to recycle those jeans. But, as I did, God used my situation in humble awareness to again remind me what’s important in this life, and to confirm the necessity for the positive health changes I’m making. He also reminded me He even cares about our small problems. Nothing in our lives is too big or too small for God to care about. Even when you split your jeans.

What’s the problem that’s tripping you up today? How is God showing you He cares about you through it?

Thanks for sharing in my story today. God bless you!