Don’t Fear The Next Step
Taking new steps can be very scary, especially if we don’t know where it may lead us. I am sure many of you reading this have been there before; taking a new job offer, or moving to another city, or selling your house before buying a new one. I have found that many of the scariest steps I have taken have been the ones most rewarding.
What do you see when you look at a stairway of steps? Perhaps you only see the steps leading up to something that is out of your view. If you don’t know what awaits you at the top, perhaps you would be cautious to even make the climb. I think that describes many of us when it comes to taking the next step in anything – we fear the unknown, we worry about what we will find after we reach our destination.
I remember a time that my husband and I went to Ecuador on a missions trip. While in Guayaquil, Ecuador we went to a place called Santa Ana Hill. It was here that we found a long, winding stair of steps. 440 of them to be exact. From the bottom looking up, it was difficult to see where all of these steps would lead us. But because the Missionary assured us that it would be worth the climb, we began to take one step at a time. By the time we had reached about the 200th step, I wasn’t so sure that I wanted to keep going. After all, I couldn’t really see what was waiting for us at the top. But we kept on going, one step at a time, until finally we reached the top! After stopping a minute to catch my breath, I looked around and had my breath taken away again. At the top of all of those steps was a look out area where you could see for miles the city of Guayaquil. The lights of the city were lit up, the moon ever so gently hung over the city and the sight was simply breathtaking. Also at the top of the climb stood a little old white church at the top of the city. What an incredible sight and thought to think that God was there, looking over the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Not everyone took the climb with us. Some remained at the bottom of the hill, fearful to make the long climb. Words and pictures could not describe what we had seen that they had not.
Many times I have found myself sitting at the bottom of a situation or an opportunity, wondering what was yet to come. But because fear of the unknown gripped my heart and my life, I missed out. Instead of taking one step at a time, my fear kept me idle and I never found out what was lying ahead for me. I wonder how many of you have experienced this very thing.
(Deuteronomy 31:6) “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God Who goes with you. He will not leave your or forsake you.”
Maybe you won’t have to climb 440 steps to get to where you are going, but with God on your side, you no longer have to fear your next step. Just like the church on top of the city, God is on top of your situation!
BLESSINGS. Laurie
@copyright2018 laurieadams
Powerful message, Laurie. Yes, we often fear to take the next step because of the unknown. But sometimes we just have to, just live I did moving to a different department.
I feel like I’m so full of fear when I should have faith. Thanks for sharing these encouraging words.