That Next Faithful Step | Trusting God in Uncertain Moments

That Next Faithful Step | Trusting God in Uncertain Moments

I’ve always been the kind of person who sees the entire picture before I see the individual steps it takes to get there.

Have you ever felt that way?

Sometimes that perspective can feel overwhelming.

For me, it often looks like thinking about every single part of a project all at once—which can quickly lead to paralysis, overwhelm, and difficulty getting started at all. Sometimes it looks like not knowing where to begin.

But one of the most valuable life lessons I’ve learned is this:

You don’t have to see the whole path to take the next step.

I listen to Emily P. Freeman, and she often calls it “the next right thing.” That simple perspective has deeply shaped the way I approach many areas of my life.

When things begin to feel overwhelming, I try to stop focusing on the entire staircase and instead ask:
What is the next small, faithful step in front of me?

In parenting, when I face situations I don’t know how to handle, I pause and pray:
“Lord, show me what to do right here in this moment.”

In my marriage, I often ask:
“God, what would You have me say? How would You have me respond right now?”

And in my walk with Christ, when I feel uncertain or unable to clearly hear His direction, I’ve learned that the next faithful step is often simply returning to Him again:
through prayer,
through His Word,
through quiet surrender,
and through waiting patiently for His guidance.

Sometimes the waiting lasts longer than I want it to.

But I’ve also learned that God is often deeply present in the waiting.

When I don’t know what step to take next, Scripture reminds me that my steps are not mine alone to carry. God promises to guide, establish, and steady those who seek Him.

Psalm 37:23–24 says:

“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him;
though he may stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with His hand.”

Proverbs 16:9 reminds us:

“In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps.”

Psalm 119:133 says:

“Keep steady my steps according to Your promise,
and let no iniquity get dominion over me.”

And one of my favorite verses of all:

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
—Psalm 119:105

I love that Scripture says His Word is a lamp to our feet—not a floodlight showing us every detail of the future.

Often, God gives us enough light for the next step.

Not the whole journey.
Not every answer.
Just enough to keep walking with Him.

And honestly, that’s where faith grows.

I’ve found that small, consistent steps matter more than dramatic bursts of intensity almost every time. Faithfulness is often built quietly—in ordinary moments of returning to God again and again.

When we approach life from a posture of prayer and surrender, God meets us there.

Sometimes while we are waiting, He is already working behind the scenes:
opening doors we cannot yet see,
closing doors we didn’t realize needed to close,
preparing hearts,
aligning circumstances,
and guiding us long before we recognize His hand at work.

There are a few truths I often remind myself about the God we serve:

He is omnipotent — all powerful.
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
—Matthew 19:26

He is omnipresent — present everywhere.
“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?”
—Psalm 139:7–10

He is omniscient — all knowing.
“You have searched me, Lord, and You know me.”
—Psalm 139:1–4

If we believe God truly is who He says He is,
why wouldn’t we trust His leadership?

 He knows all things.
He sees what we cannot see.
Nothing is impossible for Him.

Psalm 139:5 says:

“You go before me and follow me.
You place Your hand of blessing on my head.”

I want to encourage you tonight:

Whatever you are facing, God has already gone ahead of you.

You do not have to carry the weight of figuring everything out all at once.

Sometimes faith simply looks like surrendering the next small step to Him.

Realistic faith is not always loud or dramatic.
Sometimes it looks like quietly trusting God enough to take the next faithful step.

James 4:7–8 says:

“Submit yourselves, then, to God… Come near to God and He will come near to you.”

 God desires surrender.
He desires closeness.
He wants us to come near.

And often, the next right step is simply returning to Him again.