Take the First Step

"As soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord - the Lord of all the earth - set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap." (Joshua 3:13)

God told Joshua how Israel would get across the Jordan safely. He would stop the water from flowing so they had dry ground to walk on.

Just one thing: The priests carrying the Ark would have to step into the water first, then the water would stop flowing. (Joshua 3:17 records that this is what happened.)

God said what He would do, but Israel had to take the first step of obedience to see what God said happen. If those priests didn't step into the Jordan, the water would have kept flowing. They had to take the first step of obedience and then God did the rest.

The same is true for us sometimes. God tells us His plan and then asks us to take the first step of obedience without seeing Him do His part. We have to trust Him and what He says. Once we take that first step of obedience, we see how God does exactly what He said He would.

For those us (me included) who like to know the outcome before getting started, this isn't always easy. We're being asked to do something without knowing the outcome. We have to choose to trust.

The thing about choosing to trust God is that we can be confident He will always keep His word. If He has said it, we can be sure that He will do it. But that doesn't always make it easier in the moment to take that first step without seeing the whole picture. Yet, that is exactly what we have to learn to do.

What is the first step God is asking you to take right now?

What is keeping you from taking it?

Will you choose to trust God and take that step now?