Steps and Breaths
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” Psalm 37:23
“That’s all I’m doing, Father,” I told the Lord. “Putting one foot in front of the other, one breath in front of the next.” Step by step. Breath by breath. Moment by moment. A tragedy had brought me to such a place. Everything in my life had slowed down – even my thoughts. I knew as the Lord carried me in His everlasting arms over the high waters of grief that I could not handle anything other than what was simple and right in front of me. Simple steps. Simple breaths. Step, breath, step. Breathe. Sigh.
Then it dawned on me. Why had it taken a tragedy to make me see? This is what the faith walk is, or should be anyway, isn’t it? Step by step, breath by breath, from one moment to the next, following the Lord as He leads the way.
Faith isn’t living in the future, nor trying to figure it out, as I have done for so long. Faith is being in the moment, in the step, in the breath right where we are, trusting God has the future in His hands. He directs our steps and orders our breaths. He leads us step by step, breath by breath, if only we will let ourselves be led. Step. Breathe. Step.
The Lord wants us to so trust Him that we don’t need to know what lies ahead – because He does. And no matter what may come, if we turn away from the ways of this world and walk with the Lord in His ways, He will be there with us with every step, with every breath – in every moment.
My beloved friend whom I lost in the tragedy, who had the most childlike, simple faith I have ever seen, used to tell me to take the hand of Jesus and walk with Him. For she had learned that like little boys and little girls, we must take our Father’s hand and let Him lead the way. Step by step.
Take the hand of Jesus, friend. Breathe in the Lord’s love. Study the Bible and seek His face for your life. And walk with Him. Step by step. And when you breathe out, breathe out to others His love. Breath by breath. Follow His steps.