How Do I Take the Next Right Step?
By Ashley Moore
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." - Psalm 119:105, ESV
When I was in college, I trained with a friend to run long distances.One of her biggest tips when running was to not look too far ahead. “Keep your eyes on the ground just a few feet ahead of your shoes,” she said. “That way you won’t get overwhelmed or discouraged with how far you have left to go.” I've found that this advice applies to more than just running.
I’m wondering if you relate to the feeling that you don't have enough energy to finish the race.
You are deep in the trenches of motherhood. You haven't slept, and desperately need a coffee and some adult conversation, but even the idea of trying to wrangle your newborn and toddler in their car seats exhausts you.
Or perhaps you are in the middle of a hard season of marriage. Your spouse has betrayed your trust, and the uncertainty of how things will end has spiraled you into a debilitating depression.
Or maybe, like me, you're constantly juggling between the various stressors in your life. One day it's making the budget work, second-guessing the choices you've made for your family, then balancing the emotional tension of the difficult relationships in your life.
We often are consumed with looking ahead and we drain ourselves of the energy we need to face today. But, God has reminded us in His Word of what we need when we feel this way.
We don’t need to know what’s up ahead in our journey to take our next step forward. We can keep moving by allowing God’s Word to illuminate the step right where our feet already are. And by doing so, we can progress one step at a time. One right decision after another. Then, much like when we run in a race before we know it, we will be able to glance back and see the ground we’ve covered.
We mistakenly think we need to know the whole plan to get moving. But more often than not God doesn’t give us the meticulous details of all the twists and turns that await us on our journey.
Think about it, rarely is a mother of young babies comforted by the stranger’s comment about how fast this season goes. Is that statement true? Yes, ahead of this mother’s path is a lot of long days that will compile into short years. But what she needs is to know her next right step, not what the future holds.
In a hard season of marriage, the couple doesn’t need to know what the years ahead will require of them. Rather they need wisdom to handle the tense moments, in a way that honors God and each other, right in front of them.
When I’m concerned about decisions that await me about our family’s finances, the kid’s schooling, or my various troubled relationships, I don’t need to know the details of how everything pans out. I may think I do, but knowing more about my circumstances doesn’t make me feel better.
What we need is the reminder that God is walking with us. He is providing us with strength for each stride. Enough to get us through the day and the moments right in front of our feet. And if we will trust Him by looking just a few steps ahead at a time, looking to His Word for the strength to endure every twist, turn, and bumpy terrain, we will get to our finish lines. And we will arrive with a lot more peace, than if we stayed distracted the whole time about what might be around the bend.
Dear Lord, thank you that your Word is a lamp. It is not a high-powered spotlight illuminating our entire future. Rather, you provide the perfect amount of light to show our feet the next step on our path. Thank you that you walk with us Lord and give us strength and wisdom for today. We will never not need you for every step. Forgive us when we mistakenly believe it is all on us to figure out every step into our future. Thank you that you don’t overwhelm us with what lies ahead. You are a good and loving guide who ensures the completion of the good work you started in us (Philippians 1:6). In Jesus’s name, amen.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Rasica
Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith
Kerry Washington, Andrea Bocelli, Reba McEntire, Mark Wahlberg, Tony Dungy, and Matthew McConaughey—what do all of these people have in common? They are all people of faith who have leaned on God in both the good and challenging times—and they’ve shown up to tell their stories of faith on The Jesus Calling Podcast. The Jesus Calling Podcast provides a place for people from all walks of life to share the heartaches, joys, and divine moments that keep them going.
Inspired by Sarah Young's classic devotional book, the Jesus Calling podcast has brought encouragement and peace to millions. New episodes drop every Thursday! Listen today on LifeAudio.com or wherever you find your podcasts.
Originally published Monday, 28 August 2023.
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