Take a Few Steps

Week Twelve | Fifty-Two 3.26.21 

One of my most cherished memories are the first steps wobbled by my babies. It was a bitter-sweet milestone, as each slowly crossed over from fully dependent infant to fully independent-wanna-be toddler.

Those first few steps...

We coaxed, we clapped, we cried. 

And we did it patiently again and again, day after day, expectant that one small step would soon lead to many great ones.

As I remember these long-ago days that feel like yesterday, I find myself wondering if the Father also remembers His children like this.

How He too has coaxed, clapped, and cried over our first steps. Patiently again and again, day after day, expectant that one small step will soon lead to many great ones.

Perhaps this is one of the reasons the Lord tells Joshua, the man who will lead God’s chosen people into the long-anticipated Promised Land, “When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there.”

Take a few steps...

I believe God delights like a proud Papa when we just put one foot in front of the other, with childlike faith - especially when we’re stepping into overwhelming impossibility.

You know, those flood waters

of fear

of loss

of rejection

of being misunderstood 

of failure

of helplessness

of the unknown and uncomfortable.

But what if those same rushing waters have come your way to lead you to the Rest of your life?

“...take a few steps into the river and stop…”

So Joshua leads God’s people from the safety of their tents to the brink of the overflowing Jordan. Dipping their feet in (the priests obediently and courageously go first, because that’s what leaders do), they stand still and stop.

And just ankle-deep was all it took for God to make their impossible, possible. One step, then the next and

“the waters...stood and rose up in a heap very far away. And the people passed over on dry ground, while the priests [and the Miracle Worker] stood in the middle [coaxing, clapping, and crying them on right into the Promise].” (taken from Joshua 3, brackets mine:)

Father God, we don’t always understand Your ways. Especially the ones that threaten to take us out, the ones that just keep crashing in again and again.

But what I know is this...we won’t make it to the other side unless we come to the very brink and bravely step in.

You sent Your son Jesus to go before us, and to wait right in the middle for us, cheering us on into a new place of promise.

Thank you.

In Your possible Name,

Amen 

Just take a few steps, friend. I can confidently and humbly say, with trembling legs and soaking wet feet ~ there’s always a Promise waiting, with even greater steps ahead.

Don’t be afraid.