Let’s talk about something deeply theological and important: pajamas. Specifically, that one pair you refuse to part with. You know the ones—soft as a cloud, perfectly worn in, and maybe just a little too threadbare to go out in public. But you can’t bring yourself to let them go, because, well… they’re comfortable.
I had a pair like that once. The kind you wear so much they become your bestie. Mine were Tweety Bird flannel pajama bottoms—soft, fluffy, and, oh, so comfortable. I wore them all the time.
Back in my 30s, when I was in Youth Ministry and also serving as the Girls Ministry Director for the Assemblies of God in TN, I had the blessing of working from home. This meant I could pull off a blazer-and-dress-shirt combo for video calls while secretly rocking my beloved Tweety Bird pajama pants. No one knew my secret.
That is, until one fateful Monday morning. I logged into a video conference call with a room full of executives and pastors in the Nashville TN A/G Office, thinking it was just another day of business as usual. But then, out of nowhere, someone asked, "So, Tracee—what kind of pants are you wearing?"
Perplexed, I hesitated. "Oh, uh… I'm wearing pants, yes…" But they weren’t letting it go. The questions kept coming. "We want to see what pants you’re wearing."
I tried to dodge, divert, and redirect. But eventually, they wore me down. With great reluctance, I stood up and revealed my not-so-professional wardrobe choice. And just like that, Tweety Bird made his grand entrance onto the screen. The entire boardroom erupted in laughter.
Let’s just say, that was the last time I wore those pajama pants to a board meeting. Lesson learned.
As I look back on that day, it’s given me a great laugh, but it’s also got me thinking about it. Why was I so attached to those pajama pants? It wasn’t just about comfort—it was about familiarity. They were my go-to, my fallback, my security blanket in fabric form. And isn’t that exactly what we do with so many things in life?
We hold onto things we know we should let go of, but we don’t, because it’s familiar—even when it’s falling apart. We cling to old mindsets, habits, and even fears, all because they feel like home, even when they’re doing more harm than good.
Jesus, meanwhile, is over here like, “Uh… I’ve got something better for you.” But instead of trading in our raggedy pajamas (or, you know, our control issues, self-doubt, or fears), we clutch them tighter, convinced nothing else could possibly feel as right as this broken-in, worn-out thing we refuse to surrender.
But what if we did? What if we actually let go and trusted that God has better? That He sees what we need before we do and isn’t trying to strip us of comfort, but instead, trying to lead us into something new, whole, and life-giving?
Scripture reminds us in Isaiah 43:19 (NLT): “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”
But we can’t step into the new if we’re still clutching the old.
So, maybe it’s time to trade in those threadbare fears, those stretched-out doubts, and those ripped-up anxieties. Maybe, just maybe, it’s time to trust that what God has ahead is far better than anything we’re holding onto.
And if you still want to keep your pajama pants? No judgment here. Just… maybe don’t wear them to your next Zoom call. LOL!
Now, go pour that cup of coffee, take a deep breath, and ask yourself: What’s my worn-out thing I need to let go of today?