3 Reasons Why You Should Take that First Step of Faith

Sometimes we reach places in life where we just aren’t sure where God’s calling us to go. In those moments, what do we do? Do we stop and wait? Maybe. But, oftentimes we just need to take that first step of faith. Though there are many valid reasons why we should wait for God to move or speak, in many situations God just wants us to start taking steps.

Here are three reasons why we should take these first wild steps of faith.

#1 Trust God will Direct You

Sometimes we are faced with multiple paths and we aren’t quite sure which one to take.

Though it is very wise to wait, pray, fast, and listen for God to speak. Sometimes, we just need to pick the path that seems smartest and take that first step of faith. Even if you really cannot decide which path is wisest to take, start walking, and trust that God will direct you.

When I first asked my fiance to be my girlfriend, I felt sick with fear. I knew I liked her, and I knew she liked me, but I wasn’t certain yet if God wanted us to marry. I didn’t want to start dating her if God didn’t want us to marry.

Following God is always the best option, even if things don’t turn out as we’d like.

The sun had just set, and we were sitting on a rock in the middle of a river in Durango, Colorado. I’d been praying and asking God for guidance for a long while. I felt so anxious I could hardly eat.

Every now and then I’d find a bit of relief during a church service. Like popping my head above the water for just a brief moment to see where God was leading me before the surging waters pulled me back down again.

So, as we sat on that rock, I feverishly prayed to ask God for guidance. I got a little bit of peace, but still no guarantee that she was the one I’d marry. It seemed as if God said:

“Is it good for you to date her?”

“I think,” I answered.

“Do you believe I led you to her?”

“Maybe.”

And that was it. He gave me no clarity. I had no idea where this would go. I had no reason to pull back now other than my fear, which felt very ungrounded. So I had to take that first step of faith.

Now we are engaged.

I didn’t know what God was calling me to do, and I knew waiting to ask her out would only hurt both of us. So I took that first step. As we dated, God granted me more clarity.

This is how God works. As we take steps of faith, God will work and direct us.

#2 Trust God will Clear the Path for You

Sometimes we know what God has called us to do, but it seems weird to take these first steps when we know it’s leading to a dead end.

Often in my writing, I reach spots where I have no idea what to write next. Us authors call this “writer’s block”. Just as I don’t believe in letting fear or discomfort stop me, I also don’t want writer’s block to slow me down. What do I do?

I pray and ask God to speak through me. Then, I write and trust that God will write through me.

Some of my favorite chapters in my books come out of moments like these. As I write, God gives me fresh ideas and new perspectives.

It’s the same with you. Though it might look like this calling is impossible, there’s a reason why God’s calling you to it. Trust that as you journey down this path God will work out the impossible details. Or maybe he won’t. God works in unimaginable ways. Perhaps he’s leading you to that dead-end to teach you an important lesson for later.

Whatever the case may be, following God is always the best option, even if things don’t turn out as we’d like.

#3 Trust God will Work Through You

Sometimes we have a vague understanding of what God is calling us to do, or maybe we just aren’t certain any good will come out of something. In either case, taking that first step of faith is a critical aspect of following God.

You wouldn’t believe how many of these blog posts start with me praying and asking God “What should I write to encourage my readers?” I often feel completely drained of topics.

As we take steps of faith, God will work and direct us.

This blog is a result of another failed blog idea. I had a fragment of a blog idea and was about to trust that God would just start writing it through me as I began composing it. Then God showed me that this act of starting a blog post and trusting he’d work through me as I wrote is actually what I should write about.

Funny enough, my response was, “But is there enough to write about for that topic to fill a whole blog?”

God’s answer: “Why don’t you trust me and start writing?”

And here we are.

It’s okay if you don’t have the full picture, just start taking wild steps of faith toward that fragment of an idea and watch as God starts clarifying the rest of it.

If you don’t feel like you are equipped enough or that this idea isn’t good enough, then you are in good company. I wonder all the time if any of my blogs are any good and if they will ever encourage someone. This is again when I have to trust God.

If God gave me this idea, and if he gave you this vision, then we can trust that somehow it will bring about the fruit God desires.

Take that First Step of Faith

I don’t know what God is calling you to do, but it’s always good to pray and fast if you are uncertain. However, don’t just stay there. Whether you are trusting God to guide you as you in making a decision, work a miracle to tear down that impossible barrier before you, or work through you as you step out onto an unclear path, start taking those first steps of faith.

Additionally, you should always turn to your local church or other believers you respect and ask them for advice. I’m here for you too. If you have any questions, I’d love to answer them. And perhaps your question might even spark a blog idea!

All the while, check your heart, pray for guidance, and follow God.

This is how people change the world. This is how we live wilder.

 

If this blog encouraged you, you might want to check out my blog: Stepping out without a plan

If you’d like to be notified when new blogs are released and receive a free e-version of my soon-to-be-released book Discovering God’s Calling click here.