If You’re about to Take a Big First Step

by Lois Flowers

They say the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step, and you, my dear, are about to take a big one. A long prayed-for, nervously anticipated, who-knows-what-this-is-going-to-lead-to first step.

I would expect a tough week, before you set that first foot down. I would expect discouragement, exhaustion, frustration and anxiety to ambush you, maybe like never before.

I’m guessing that first step might not go so well. It might be uncomfortable. It might bring up things you don’t want to think about. It might make you feel nothing at all.

Whatever it does, don’t stop moving. Take another step, and another, and another.

Remember that thing called inertia? How an object at rest remains at rest and an object in motion remains in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force?  Sometimes that force comes at us from outside ourselves, leaving us no choice but to start rolling.

That’s not the case here, though. Sure, circumstances have led you to this point, but you’ve had to create the momentum inside yourself to start moving.

That’s one thing I love about you. I’m so easily distracted, so quick to give up, so prone to settle for less-than-my-best.

But not you. You push through. You keep going. You perservere.

Even when it’s hard.

And it has been hard. I don’t know how hard, exactly, because I’m not you. I don’t think like you think and feel what you feel.

Which might make it even worse for you, because nobody really gets it.

I’ve prayed so hard for you. I have begged and pleaded and reminded and begged some more, for God to just remove that thorn from your side already.

I know you’ve done the same, maybe even to the point of giving up. What’s the point, after all? Nothing’s changed, nothing will ever change. At least that’s what it seems like.

We’ve been through enough to know there are no tidy bows, no neatly packaged conclusions, certainly no quick fixes.

But haven’t we also been through enough to know there’s always hope? That what we see in front of us is not all there is? That God’s supply far exceeds our need, even when we have no idea what it is that we really need?

I think of all the prayers that have been lifted up to heaven over the years on our behalf. They have no expiration dates, those requests. The people who prayed them often saw us through older, wiser eyes. There’s no telling, really, what all they’ve shared with God about us.

There’s comfort in that, I think.

What lies ahead may cause you to dig deep, to hunker down, to run scared, to roll your eyes. But it also might bring relief. Understanding. Healing.

So as you move forward, go in the strength that you have, remembering that His strength is made perfect in your weakness.

It’s all you can do, really.

But I think it will be enough.

Lois

We’ve been through enough to know there are no tidy bows, no neatly packaged conclusions, certainly no quick fixes. Click To Tweet As you move forward, go in the strength that you have, remembering that His strength is made perfect in your weakness. Click To Tweet

P.S. I’m linking up this week with Purposeful Faith, #TellHisStoryLet’s Have Coffee, Faith on Fire, Faith ‘n Friends and Grace & Truth.

Photo by Jan Tinneberg on Unsplash.

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20 comments

Julie Dibble October 21, 2019 - 12:49 pm

Lois, simply beautiful. I especially like your appreciation of others’ prayers which have “no expiration dates”. I must ask. Is this written to the reader, or to someone in your life? In Christ, Julie

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Lois Flowers October 21, 2019 - 2:47 pm

Thanks so much, Julie. Great question … the answer is yes. 🙂 I had a couple of specific people in mind when I was writing it, but the further I got into it, the more I started to think that others might find it encouraging too. I love it when that happens, don’t you?

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Rebecca Hastings October 18, 2019 - 8:35 am

Oh, those first steps. They can feel so exciting and so scary. And they are rarely perfect. But we just need to keep going! Imperfect first steps can take us to beautiful places

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Lois Flowers October 19, 2019 - 9:21 pm

Isn’t that the truth, Rebecca! 🙂

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Karen Friday October 17, 2019 - 12:13 pm

I love this, Lois! So inspirational and something I really need right now! Thankful when the Lord does that for us. Resolved to keep taking the steps forward, knowing there’s always hope no matter what!

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Lois Flowers October 19, 2019 - 9:20 pm

I’m so glad you found this post helpful right now, Karen! “There’s always hope, no matter what.” Amen!

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Mary Geisen October 16, 2019 - 6:45 pm

Taking that first step is hard but not impossible. I love your thought that prayer does not have an expiration. People who pray for others might see an answer years later or perhaps never but it doesn’t mean God has forgotten. You gave me a lot to think about.

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Lois Flowers October 19, 2019 - 9:19 pm

Mary, that truth about prayer is so comforting, isn’t it? It almost gives me chills to think of all the prayers my parents, especially, prayed for me over the years that could still be “in effect,” so to speak. 🙂

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Lesley October 15, 2019 - 3:39 pm

This is beautiful, Lois, and it encourages me in something where I have taken the first step but I am unsure how to keep moving forward. It is reassuring to remember that God’s strength is enough.

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Lois Flowers October 19, 2019 - 9:17 pm

I’m so glad the post was timely for you, Lesley. Hugs, friend. 🙂

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Trudy October 15, 2019 - 3:05 pm

No, it definitely is not easy to take that first step or those ongoing steps, especially when we get so weary. I love these searching questions: “But haven’t we also been through enough to know there’s always hope? That what we see in front of us is not all there is? That God’s supply far exceeds our need, even when we have no idea what it is that we really need?” Questions I need to ask myself more often. I’m so glad He is so faithful and so patient with us! Love and blessings of the comfort of God’s sufficient grace to you, Lois!

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Lois Flowers October 19, 2019 - 8:20 pm

Oh Trudy … I’m so glad God is faithful and patient with us too. I hope you are doing well so far this fall. Love and hugs to you!

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Jeanne T October 15, 2019 - 2:16 pm

Awww, Lois. We all need these reminders, especially when a new chapter is about to begin. You are right, new chapters do cause us to dig deep and lean into Jesus.

This is such a beautiful post! Thanks for your encouragement.

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Lois Flowers October 19, 2019 - 8:16 pm

Thanks so much, Jeanne. I’ve been praying for your and your family, my friend. I hope October is going well …

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Bethany October 15, 2019 - 1:04 pm

Beautiful.

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Lois Flowers October 19, 2019 - 8:13 pm

Thanks, Bethany. Praying for you, my friend. 🙂

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Linda Stoll October 15, 2019 - 7:30 am

The first step is often hard, the outlook paved with fear of the what ifs.

But once we take it, we see that we’re not alone. We’re led by our Father and are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses who travel before and alongside us.

What a journey we’ve been invited to. Even though it hasn’t been easy …

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Lois Flowers October 19, 2019 - 8:13 pm

Oh yes, Linda … I’m abundantly grateful for our heavenly Father’s leading and those dear ones in the cloud of witnesses who are cheering us on. We press toward the mark, one step at a time.

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Yvonne Chase October 15, 2019 - 6:37 am

Amen, his strength is made perfect in my weakness. I felt like you were speaking to me directly through this post; “But not you. You push through. You keep going. You persevere.” Was just watching pastor David Jeremiah talk about perseverance. He describes it as continuing on in spite of difficulties when you’d prefer to stop. Thank you.

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Lois Flowers October 19, 2019 - 8:10 pm

That’s a great definition of perseverance, Yvonne. I’m so glad this post spoke to you this week! 🙂

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