Get to Stepping

“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9 (NLT)

Have you ever wanted to do something or go somewhere but after a while you slowly talked yourself out of doing the thing or going somewhere? If you raised your hand or said “that’s me”, don’t feel bad because I raised both of my hands too! I’ve allowed outside influences, my own fears, and my ‘introvertedness’ keep me from doing some of the very things that I really wanted to do like dine in a restaurant by myself, attend an event by myself, start this blog, pray out loud in church, or run around the church in high praise. Whatever it may be, I’ve allowed fear to grip me and hold me hostage. However, I’ve come to realize that fear is not of God and has no place in my life. In fact, I John 4:18 says, ” Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love” (NLT). I decided to lay this issue at the feet of Jesus and leave it there; I decided to leave fear behind and “get to stepping” towards what’s in front of me.

A few Sundays ago, at my family home church, the pastor (hey Apostle Manuel!) asked if I wouldn’t mind sharing a short testimony of how good God’s been to me this year. Now, my first instinct was to say no (I don’t like public speaking and I always get emotional when I speak in front of people at church) but I said yes; I told God that I would not run or retreat when an opportunity arose for me to share His goodness. Yes, I cried (lol) but not only did I share about God’s faithfulness to me but I overcame my fear and “stepped” into this ministry journey.

I think about how fearful Moses must have been when God chose him to lead the children of Israel from captivity. Moses thought of multiple excuses of why he wasn’t the man for the job. How many of us have told God that we aren’t qualified for the tasks and assignments He has commanded us to perform. Take a moment to think about it; how can we (his creations) tell the “King of Kings”, the “I Am that I Am”, the “All-knowing and All-powerful Creator” that He has chosen the wrong person to carry out an assignment. It stings doesn’t it! But Moses took it a step farther by having the audacity to ask God to just send someone else. Can you just imagine God’s facial expression like “how dare you ask me that!” Despite his anger towards Moses, God sent Moses a helper, his brother Aaron, but Moses wasn’t given a reprieve. He had to step out of his comfort zone, step out from all that was familiar to him, step out from his place of safety and go to where God commanded him to go. I’m sure this wasn’t an easy task but He knew that what was ahead of him was far more greater than what was behind him.

It’s time for us, as Children of God, to “get to stepping” into what he has called us to do. YES, it might seem crazy; YES, it might seem challenging; YES, it might seem scary; YES, it might seem too big for you to handle, but God is in control of EVERYTHING! He knows the beginning from the end and we must learn to totally trust and depend on him, just like Moses. God equipped Moses with everything He needed to deliver the children of Israel from captivity. If He is the same God yesterday, today, and forever more (Hebrews 13:8), then won’t He also equip you with everything you need to pursue and complete your assigned tasks!

Don’t allow fear to hold you captive any longer; know that God is with you wherever you go. Give God your “Yes” and watch Him move on your behalf! God loves you and so do I!

What has God called you to “get to stepping” into? Join me by commenting #gettostepping and we’ll take this journey together!

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