Just the Next Step

Keep your head down and attack.

That’s a principal I employ when I’m facing the daunting task of running hills.  The theory is that we’re easily defeated by the looming mountain ahead of us but it becomes much more manageable if we just tackle it step by step.  Focusing on this concept is the only way that I can continuously conquer the rolling hills of Tennessee.

But I’ve realized this is far more than a running principle.  It applies to so much of our life and leadership.

God didn’t intend for us to focus on the mountains, the challenges looming in the distance.  He asked us to focus on his guidance for the next step.

When we focus on the mountain, we become victims of fear, doubts and insecurities.  We become overwhelmed by the belief that “I can’t do it”.  We stumble.  We falter and sometimes we stop.  We give up.

The truth is we can’t do it.  We can’t because the mountain is the wrong focus.  Our responsibility is the next step.

The step in front of is always smaller than mountain ahead of you.

With every step of willing obedience God provides the endurance for the rest of the journey.

Step by step our obedience sharpens our faith and the mountain shrinks before us.

When our faith collides with our obedience we realize that we can’t but God can.

What mountain are you focused on right now?

How could you change your focus to simply being obedient to a next step?

You may also like

No comments

  • Angel February 11, 2013  

    Oh, Jenni–this is SOOO what I needed to hear/read this morning!  My daughters have both made some really bad choices the past few days.  I have been focusing ont he fact that this is just the beginning–it will be so much worse when they are actual teenagers (they are 11 and 9) and feeling the weight that if my husband and I don’t deal well with it now, it will screw them up for the rest of their life under our roof.  Silly, but parenting is a mountain to me –more so than leading a ministry most days.  Trusting Him for words for today without looking into the future is the only way I know to be obedient.

  • Jon Stallings February 12, 2013  

    Great point Jenni, God always cause us to something bigger than ourselves, but he only reveals a small step at a time to get there. Abraham was called to leave his family without really knowing where he was going. Oddly enough I posted on my blog this week on who the big picture is overrated. It’s size can be overwhelming. http://www.jonstallings.com/2013/02/11/why-your-big-picture-is-overrated/

    • Jenni Catron February 13, 2013  

      Thanks for sharing that Jon!