Trust the Steps

Picture by Brigette Billups Outfit Details: a TAD More Faith

You always want your kids to advance on to the next skill. When they are teeny tiny you want them to roll over. Next you need them to hold up their own head. Then you want them sitting up. Then crawling. And then of course walking. Putting one foot in front of the other. 

Lampley has started taking some steps in the recent weeks. Because she rolled over at 3 weeks and is already climbing on furniture, (something her older sister never did at this age) I kind of assumed that walking would come easy to her once she decided to give it a try.

But she’s been more timid about committing to walking than anything else she does. The girl will climb a whole flight of stairs with ease but will crumble to the ground after taking a couple of steps. When I get her back up to try again, she just stands there, strong and screaming because she does not want to walk. 

As a second time mom, I’m in no rush for her to walk. But as her mom I don’t want her to be scared to try. Especially when it is something I know she will be good at doing. 

The other day I tried to hold her hand to walk outside and she wouldn’t have it. She wouldn’t hold it. Wouldn’t try. Instead just pulled away and crawled off. I was offering her a trusting hand, a guide, a way to let her know she didn’t have to go at it alone and even still she didn’t want to try. And it got me thinking. 

I wonder how many times God has tried to do that with me. 

I can see all that Lampley will be able to do once she starts walking. I know she will no longer get frustrated because it takes her twice as long to crawl with a toy in her hand then it would to walk. But Lampley doesn’t know that yet. She will, at some point, but not right now. 

God can see all that will happen if I just trust Him with the next step. But I can’t. I can’t right now. One day I will, at some point, but not right now. 

Taking the next step, in your career, your mental health, your relationships, your job, your dream - it doesn’t always feel like you are taking a step on sturdy ground. In fact it feels more like stepping on a wobbly rock at the top of a mountain you’re not totally sure how you climbed up in the first place. But that wobbly rock doesn’t feel as shaky underneath as long as you are holding tightly to something else. 

And what’s that something else going to be. Your fear? Or your Faith. 

In this next year, I want to, I need to, get better at grabbing the hand of God instead of the hand of “what if”. Because no matter what step I take, He’s holding my hand. Even if I head in the wrong direction, He’s still there holding my hand and pulling me back towards Him. God knows our steps. He want us to trust Him. He wants to be apart of them. 

So I pray that whatever next step you are taking as this year starts off that you grab His hand as you begin along. And I pray that He provides you with the security to know which steps are the right ones to take. Trust the steps He leads you on. 

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps” - Proverbs 16:9