Stepping Out in Faith

As long as we are following God, it doesn’t matter where we are going, we just need to step out in faith and go.

Have you ever found yourself praying for direction in some aspect of your life? It could be a job, a relationship, financial issues, health issues or anything in between. Have you ever found yourself at a crossroads and are really unsure of whether to stay or go? I think we probably have all found ourselves in that place at one time or another. We pray and pray for a megaphone moment, preferably with a GPS or at the very least a paper map.

Sometimes we just get a word or two like not now or go. Now, I don’t know about you, but not now; stay put; is an easier command for me than go. Staying put allows me to stay right where I am. It might not be the best place to be, but it’s familiar. Go, is a little trickier. I’m a planner. I really like to take a map with me that shows me all of the little towns and landmarks I will pass by on the journey. I mean, what if I get lost?

And even after I have found myself praying for a very long time about something, when the answer is go, I find myself questioning whether or not God really meant it, even when the answer has been made very clear for me. Sometimes, when the answer is go, He doesn’t give me any more directions than that. I find myself worrying about where I should go and exactly how do I get there?

Here’s where faith and obedience come in. When you draw close to God and pray earnestly and honestly for answers, you will eventually get them. Sometimes it seems to take a long time, but when you get them, you know. Obedience means following God’s directions. Sometimes they may be, “Go to Ninevah.” as in Jonah’s case. But, sometimes they are much vaguer, like with Abram. “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” Genesis 12:1

Could God have been any less specific? But, Abram went and God took him on a grand adventure and made an entire nation out of him. He trusted and obeyed. He made mistakes along the way, but he obeyed the call to go. The Bible is full of these people. Moses was minding his business tending sheep when God called him to lead the people out of Egypt. Mary was minding her own business when Gabriel told her she would be the mother of the Son of God.

Each of these people had to step out in faith. They had to step out into the unknown with only their faith in God to guide their steps. But, oh the steps they took and the lives that they changed through their obedience. Were they frightened? Probably. Were they happy about the call to go? Maybe, maybe not, but they obeyed God and left the familiar and went into the great unknown with God as their guide.

Stepping out in faith can be scary, but if we want to grow closer to God, we have to be willing to obey, no matter how big or small the step may be. The fabulous thing is we only have to take the first step and then He will show us the next. If God is telling you to stay put, then by all means, stay right where you are. But, if He is telling you to go, reach out for His hand. A grand adventure is likely ahead of you even if you have no idea what it is. Thankfully, you don’t have to know, He knows, and that’s enough.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂