Enough Light for the Next Step
A life of faith isn’t a life of certainty in our own plans – it’s a life of trusting in God as we take each step forward. God doesn’t reveal the entire path ahead of us all at once. Instead, he gives us just enough light to see where to place our next footstep. Psalm 119:105 captures this truth beautifully: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Notice the imagery – God’s Word isn’t a floodlight illuminating the entire road ahead. It’s a lamp that provides enough light for the next step.
This can be unsettling for those of us who like to have a well-laid-out plan. We want clarity, security, and assurance of what’s coming next. But faith doesn’t work that way, (as much as I sometimes wish it did). Faith is trusting in God before we see what lies ahead. It’s taking that next step because we know the Lord – his character, his promises, his faithfulness in our past. We do not walk by sight, but by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Daily Dependence, Not Future Certainty
Jesus teaches this same principle when he instructs us to pray for our daily bread (Matthew 6:11). He doesn’t tell us to ask for a lifetime supply of provision, stored up so that we never have to rely on him again. Instead, he provides enough for today. Just as the Israelites received manna in the wilderness – enough for each day and no more (Exodus 16:4) – God’s provision for us is daily, requiring continual trust.
This is difficult for us because we long for control. We want to know where we’re going, how it will all work out, and what the future holds. But if God gave us all the details in advance, would we truly be trusting him? Or would we begin trusting in our own understanding instead? God leads us step by step, teaching us to lean on him rather than on our own plans. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Faith Is Moving Forward Even Before You See
There’s a powerful moment in Joshua 3 when the Israelites are about to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land. God tells them that the waters will part – but only after the priests carrying the Ark step into the river. Imagine the scene: the waters are still rushing, and yet they’re called to step in first. Only when their feet touch the water does the river part before them (Joshua 3:15-16).
That’s what faith looks like. God calls us to take the step before we see the outcome. He asks us to trust him, not just the circumstances. We move forward not because we can see the future, but because we know the One who holds the future in his hands.
Remembering His Faithfulness
One of the greatest ways we strengthen our faith is by remembering what God has already done. The Israelites were repeatedly called to remember – to recall how God had delivered them, provided for them, and led them (Deuteronomy 8:2). Why? Because remembering past faithfulness fuels present trust.
When we reflect on our own lives, we see the same pattern. How many times has God provided when we saw no way forward? How many prayers has he answered? How many times has he guided us through uncertainty? We take the next step in confidence not because we have all the answers, but because we serve a God who has never failed us.
Walking by Faith, Not by Sight
Hebrews 11, the great “faith chapter,” is filled with examples of men and women who obeyed God without knowing how everything would unfold. Hebrews 11:8 tells us, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” Abraham didn’t have a roadmap. He didn’t have all the answers. But he had God’s promise, and that was enough.
God calls us to the same kind of trust. He asks us to step out in faith, even when the path ahead is unclear. He asks us to take the next step, knowing that he is already there, waiting to lead us further.
Trusting the God Who Goes Before You
Deuteronomy 31:8 offers a great reassurance:
It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
God doesn’t just give us light for the next step – he goes before us. He’s already in our future, preparing the way. He doesn’t abandon us on the journey. He walks with us, leading, guiding, and providing.
So today, whatever uncertainty you face, trust him. You may not see twenty miles down the road, but you have enough light for the next step. And that’s enough.
Questions for Personal Reflection
- Can you think of a time when God asked you to take a step of faith before you had all the answers? What was the result?
- How does the idea of “daily bread” challenge the way you trust God for provision and direction?
- What are some ways you can remind yourself of God’s past faithfulness to strengthen your present trust in him?
Walking Points
- Reflect on Psalm 119:105 today. Ask God to help you trust him for just the next step, rather than worrying about the entire journey.
- Make a list of times when God has been faithful to lead you in the past. Let these reminders encourage you to trust him for what’s ahead.
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