One Small Step

“When in doubt, just take the next small step.”

It is my belief that far too many people are frozen in space and time. They would rather continue their walk in a circular rut. Maybe its out of fear. Maybe they have been burnt in the past. Maybe they had a parent that was such a “helicopter parent” that now as an adult they are hesitant to strike out, to risk.

It becomes easier to just stay in the same rut…so much that one day the rut becomes so deep they couldn’t step out of it if they wanted to.

But in doing so, that person misses an immense portion of real life. They run the risk of missing things, great things, which God has prepared for them.

I both pity and hurt for those people.

Because I firmly believe that Jesus meant what He said in John 10:10 -

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

The thief He speaks of is satan. I know what you’re asking… “But you said it is fear that keeps people from taking the next step..” and I did. But it is satan that has you believing that you can’t, that it’s too risky, that people will ridicule you, that you might lose everything. He is the father of lies. He comes to steal life from you, he comes to kill your desire to live to Christ and wants to destroy your joy, he wants to cheat you out of a deeper relationship and fellowship with Christ .  BUT -  Not Jesus. He came to give you life and give it more abundantly!  He came that even when you doubt where this “thing” is going you know you can trust Him and that you can text that next step.

I think of people like Peter – in Matthew 14:22-33 (go read the story) it is clear that everyone in the boat is terrified, it is clear that even Peter cried out in fear. He asks Jesus that IF it’s you command me and I will come. I find it interesting that Jesus could have said - “Yes, Peter, It is I come.” But Jesus just said – “come.”  Was it implied that it was Him? Maybe. But He didn’t answer Peter’s question did He (besides, He had already told them once, what more did he need)?

Peter still had to have some faith that it really was Him, I mean hey, it could have been an imposter. But Peter took that one small step out of the boat. The others frozen in fear, maybe disbelief, maybe awe.

But Peter… Peter took that next small step even when there may have been some doubt still in his mind.  Besides the obvious, that Jesus can do anything and cause it so other can too… Peter was able the rest of his life to say that he had walked on water. All because he took that first small step to Jesus.

I imagine that once the storm was over, once they were back on terra firma, that Peter was a little dazed, amazed, and exhilarated, and I wouldn’t be surprised to find out he teased his fellow crew members for a while.

Time doesn’t allow discussing the likes of Abraham taking the first step on the walk to sacrifice his son Isaac or Nehemiah taking that step into a king’s throne room not only to ask to be set free but for money and resources…or Gideon experiencing the amazing stunning victory with only 300 soldiers over thousands… the list goes on and on.

Then it strikes me, why aren’t Followers of Christ experiencing God’s Hand at work in abundant ways? Our doubt vetos our faith, and it freezes us in place.

So we just continue on the same path, going in circles, never realizing the promise of abundant life. We read of great stories of God working in ordinary people in extraordinary ways all throughout the Bible. But that is all we do, read.

I would change the very statement - “When in doubt, just take the next small step.”

 - to read - “When in doubt, trust Jesus and just take the next small step.” 

We have to stop being afraid, we have to stop the fear from freezing our next step. That’s what Jesus told the frightened fishermen - Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter’s first step came from the little bit of courage he could muster, it came from him trusting Jesus when He had simply said “come,” it came in the act of putting his fear aside…and he took it. And what happened was something he could have never in his life imagined, a part from Jesus.

Let me ask you.

What do you feel God is leading you to do? What “boat” is He asking you to get out of? What place is He asking you to leave or to go to? What risk is He leading you to take?

Is doubt or fear keeping you from taking that next small step? Does it seem too risky, foolish? I want to encourage you… do you doubt a little bit right now…well -

“When in doubt, trust Jesus and just take the next small step.”