Step by Step

Why?

This is a question many have been asking recently, amid the struggle and difficulty of painful circumstances. It’s a question I have asked many times throughout my life. I have found the better question is “what?” God, what do you have for me in this? What are you teaching me? And more importantly, “Who?” Who am I trusting to be Lord? Am I trusting myself, or am I trusting the God who created and formed me?

The truth is, we may not ever have the answers to our “why’s” this side of eternity. But even when we struggle to understand, we can rely on God’s promises. 

God has brought many Scriptures to mind this week, including 1 Corinthians 13:12,

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”

Our knowledge and understanding of God and His ways are limited. We cannot see the whole - but only see in part. Until we see Him face-to-face, we can live in the hope that He holds it all. We can also trust the promise of Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

It may not always feel good. It may not always make sense according to our expectations and our timing. But faith is trusting that God does have a plan and He is working it for our good despite what we can see. You see, God keeps reminding me over and over again that I am only called to the very next step. I cannot focus on tomorrow’s worries but live in the grace of today. And boy, do I wrestle with this. I am thankful that God is compassionate, gracious, and patient with me. I am thankful that He keeps reminding me to stay in step with Him. 

Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” 

Psalm 37:23 says, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way.” 

The Hebrew word for “step” is a bit different in the two verses. The first means “a regular pace, step-by-step” and the second, “companionship; going, step.” Although we attempt to make our own path and our own plans, the Lord calls us to His pace, to His steps. When we commune with Him, we will be in step with Him. It’s both/and. 

I don’t know about you, but I want to be in step with Him. I want to be on His path, not my own. Proverbs 4:11-12 says, “I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.” 

Did you get that? When we follow His wisdom and His lead, our steps will not be - as the Hebrew word means, distressed - and we will not fall. What a promise to cling to! 

I don’t have to know how it all plays out. All I have to know is right here, right now, the next step.

That can feel so hard, right? We like to know what’s coming. We like to plan. That feels “safe.” But, I can say with 100 percent certainty that there’s more safety to be found in His hands, than in my ways. I mean, c’mon - I struggle at times to decide what I want to eat for lunch or in making a simple decision. What makes me think I can possibly know better about my life? 

I’ve also been soaking in a passage this week found in Isaiah 30:18-21. I encourage you to read it slowly, absorbing the promises found in it,

“Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you,

    and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.

 For the Lord is a God of justice;

    blessed are all those who wait for him.

For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as He hears it, He answers you. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide Himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”

Lord, help us to walk in Your ways and not our own. Holy Spirit, open our eyes to see You and our ears to hear You. Show us the way, Lord.