By Cyndi
There are many things in life that seem insurmountable. And in some things we need divine intervention – a miracle – at times. But in the majority of cases, I believe God is looking for us to move forward out of our situation step-by-step.
I remember studying the book of Exodus and realizing the simple principle of: if I take a step, God will meet me. This happens throughout the entire book. For example, God told Moses to go talk to Pharaoh and once he did, He moved. God told Moses to extend his rod, and in return, the Lord parted the Red Sea. God presented a step-by-step provision – if I do this, He will do that. You could even say it was a “growing up” or maturing process the Lord was taking Moses through.
And isn’t this a picture of what maturing looks like in the natural? An infant or small child needs intervention – they cannot feed themselves, cook for themselves, dress themselves, etc. But as the child grows into adulthood, they are capable of doing a multitude of things without any assistance. As goes the natural, so goes the spiritual.
Why do we ask God to deliver us from a horrible job when maybe what’s needed is a maturing on our part to learn some better relationship skills or emotional management? Maybe if we take a step to search for greater communication techniques or conflict resolution strategies, then God will do His part to help the situation. Maybe, as He did with Moses, He’s waiting on us to make the first move.
This is one of the reasons why we title these weekly emails “Stepping Stones.” We believe God wants us to become mature sons and daughters of the King, and what enables us to do that is taking steps. Our hope is that we help provide encouragement and some tools for your journey down the path God has for you.
And yes, it’s true, there are many things that happen in our life that seem insurmountable and impassable, however, God always has a plan. Sometimes it’s not simply to deliver you – like removing a baby from a high-chair, or picking up a child to place on a horse – but to show you steps you can take, whether it’s moving through stages of grief, learning to communicate with your spouse, parenting your teenager, or dealing with unemployment. He has a path for you!
Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV)
As this new year starts, look for those “stepping stones” the Lord is putting in your path to walk on. Look for those ways to move forward, through your problems, and into your destiny. And look for God to meet you every step of the way as you go.