Take the Step

Have you ever stood at the beginning of something and thought, "I have no idea what I'm doing"?

Israel knew that feeling. They were approaching the Promised Land, but the road ahead was unfamiliar. There was no previous experience to rely on and no map showing them every turn.

God simply told them to follow the Ark-His presence would go before them.

Sometimes we want God to explain the entire journey before we'll take the first step. But God doesn't always give us a map. Sometimes He simply says, "Follow Me."

You don't have to know where the road leads when you know Who you're following.

Don't let unfamiliar territory convince you that God isn't leading. Your responsibility isn't to figure out the entire journey. Stay close to Him and take the next step.

There couldn't have been a worse time to cross the Jordan. The river was at flood stage.

The water was high. The current was strong. Everything about the circumstances said, "WAIT."

But God said, "MOVE."

We sometimes assume that if God is leading, everything should feel comfortable. But throughout Scripture God repeatedly called people out of what was familiar.

Abraham had to leave. Moses had to go. Esther had to speak. Peter had to step out.

The safest place for Israel was beside the Jordan-but the promise wasn't there.

Don't allow comfort to make your decisions for you. Faith doesn't ask, "Where do I feel safest?" Faith asks, "Where is God leading me?"

Don't miss the order.

The water didn't stop first. Their feet touched the water-and then the water stopped.

We usually want it the other way around: "God, show me the miracle, then I'll move. Open the door, then I'll go. Make it make sense, then I'll trust You."

We want MIRACLE → STEP.
Sometimes God says STEP → MIRACLE.

At some point faith has to become more than something we believe. It has to become something we do.

You can pray about it, dream about it, talk about it and believe for it. But eventually, your feet have to get wet.

The water may still be moving. Take the step anyway.

Sometimes we're waiting for fear to disappear before we'll obey.

"When I'm not afraid anymore, I'll move. When everything makes sense, I'll move. When I know it'll work, I'll move."

But that's not faith.

Abraham obeyed God without knowing where he was going. He had uncertainty and still moved.

Faith is not the absence of fear. Faith is choosing obedience in the presence of fear.

You can have questions and still obey. You can feel afraid and still move. You can feel inadequate and still say yes.

Faith isn't saying, "I know what's going to happen." Faith says, "I KNOW WHO I'M FOLLOWING."

Don't wait for fear to leave. Take the step with fear in the room and faith in the driver's seat.

There's one question that can keep us standing at the edge: "What if the water doesn't move?"

What if I forgive and they don't respond? What if I start and it doesn't succeed immediately? What if I obey and it's still difficult?

That's where faith becomes real.

Our confidence isn't that everything will happen the way we expect. Our confidence is that wherever God leads us, He is already there.

Remember-the Ark went ahead of Israel. God's presence entered the Jordan before His people crossed it.

Maybe you've been asking God for the whole plan. Maybe He's only giving you ONE STEP.

That's enough.

You don't need the whole map. Take the step.
You don't need every answer. Take the step.
You don't have to stop feeling afraid. Take the step.
You don't have to see the water move first. TAKE THE STEP.