When we sleep in a room with thin walls, we don’t want noisy neighbors. If those neighbors live in the room above us, we often wait for the next shoe to drop.

To wait for the next shoe to drop means to wait for the next event to happen.

A noisy neighbor drops one shoe. We know the next shoe will soon follow.

Because of what has already happened, we predict what will happen next.

This expression usually means we wait for something bad to happen.

We receive bad news. We expect worse news soon.

• A family member gets sick. We fear our loved one will die.
• Our boss fires other workers. We expect to lose our job soon.
• A rainstorm damages our property. We dread flooding that may follow.

What do we do when the next shoe drops?

Hard times may cause us to:

• Get mad as a wet hen
• Become a worry wart
• Complain about how unfair life is
• Pretend the bad news did not happen
• Pick up the pieces and keep going
• Count our blessings that remain

The reaction we choose changes our lives. It also changes the lives of others around us.

“Stop being afraid of what you are about to suffer … Remain faithful even when facing death and I will give you the crown of life—an unending, glorious future” (Revelation 2:10).

Thanks to Ann Klotz for the suggestion.

Do you have an expression you want explained? If so, please comment below.

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