Stepping Out in Faith: Trusting God’s Direction
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. ~ Ex 14:15
Raise your hand if you know that feeling when you’re torn between moving forward in faith or staying in the comfort of the known.
I know it, well and it seems to be happening to the Israelites in Exodus 15:5-18, where we find the Israelites complaining to Moses. They’ve been led out of slavery, and they were supposed to be on their way to the promised land, free at last. But then, they notice the Egyptians are coming after them, and fear takes over. They start doubting this journey and questioning why they left Egypt in the first place.
It makes me wonder how did Moses persuade them to follow him and trust in God’s plan in the first place? The Israelites were excited to be free, but now they’re facing hardships, and it’s natural to question whether it was all worth it.
It makes me think of times when I’ve been so eager for change, but when challenges arose, I found myself longing for the comfort of my old ways.
We get accustomed to the familiar, even if it’s not fulfilling or brings us joy. We prefer to stay in a situation where we’re just “okay,” rather than stepping into the unknown with trust and faith in God.
I find myself wrestling with the idea of surrendering control and simply trusting that God has a plan for me, even if I can’t see it clearly. I like having things figured out before moving forward, but God is calling me to let go of the need to know everything in advance.
Interestingly, as I worked on aligning myself with God’s will, the unknown becomes less daunting. It’s still a struggle but I’m learning God’s guidance is a play-by-play account rather than a full blown game plan. All I need to do is have faith in each unfolding moment.
I’m not saying we should throw planning out the window completely. Having goals and being purposeful in our actions has its place. What I am calling for is remembering to avoid letting the fear of the unknown hinder us from embracing God’s calling. It’s about striking a balance between being strategic and remaining open to divine guidance.
As my spiritual journey evolves, I’ve come to appreciate that faith is about embracing the process and being present in the moment. It’s about taking one step at a time, knowing that God’s plan will reveal itself as I move forward. That’s what God told Moses in their conversation—keep moving forward, and I will take care of the rest.
Sometimes, we feel like we need to figure out everything in advance to succeed, but isn’t that contrary to what faith is all about?
I’m learning to trust the next step will be revealed to me as I need it.
I leave you some a few reflection questions:
- In what areas of life, past or present, have you hesitated to trust God’s calling due to fearing uncertainty?
- What could help you create harmony between planning and trusting in God’s guidance?
Thanks for joining me in this reflection. Let’s keeps seeking, trusting, and keep moving forward one step at a time.
In peace,
~Juan
