For this week’s Monday Minute, Jennifer shares with us what God has been teaching her about stepping out in faith.

Stepping out in Faith to Flourish

by Jennifer Wake

Steppin’ is an amazing art form. I don’t know how, when, or where it started, but I do love to watch it.  The way the dancers move in complex positions and rhythms, yet seem to do it without effort amazes me. They love what they do. I know it is not easy, but to this mature, uncoordinated, no rhythm mom, they make it look effortless. 

Stepping out in faith should be just as effortless, right? As a military family who must move to new situations and integrate into unknown cultures, we should make life look easy and enjoyable. Yet my stepping out takes a lot of effort and it is almost never easy. 

My first stepping out in faith came way before joining the military or even meeting my Soldier. It came when I accepted a job in West Virginia.

I am from Upstate New York, the pretty part of the state. I studied to become a chemistry teacher but I could not find a job near my family. Instead, I was offered a job in Martinsburg, West Virginia. I struggled with leaving but decided I could live five hours from my family. 

I stepped out in faith.

I did not know anyone in Martinsburg, literally no one. I had a positive phone interview which lead to the job offer. I drove to this new location not knowing anyone, with no place to live, and stepped out into the great unknown. 

You could say I was crazy. I guess I was, but I was young and needed a job. 

When I arrived in Martinsburg, I found the School Board Office where I met Peachy. Having never lived south of the Mason-Dixon line, I had never met a “Peachy” before. I did not know that her name was Margaret because everyone called her Peachy because of her hair. I had stepped into a strange world.

Peachy was an angel. She took one look at me and said, “Come live with me until I can find you an apartment.” Again this “Yankee” was shocked, no one did that where I was from. Plus she said she would find me an apartment… Wait, WHAT!?!  This angel came through within a month. She found me an apartment and helped me move into it. 

As I remember this special lady I realize that stepping out to help someone was nothing new to her. It was truly a gift that she gave effortlessly. She was a mother to two kids and widowed before she was 30. She knew how to trust God and step out in faith because that had been her life.

Moses Stepped Out in Faith

Consider Moses; God talked to him. First through a “burning bush,” thunder, then directly to him. 

And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God call to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

Exodus 3:2-4 ESV

 

Moses stepped aside to see the bush. He stepped onto Holy Ground to talk to God. Later, he entered the tent of meeting to meet with God. Later, he climbed mountains to spend time with God. His faith allowed him to step out in faith time and again. But the Bible also records many times when Moses’ faith failed him. 

Just a short time later, Moses asks God to send someone else (Exodus 4:13). Moses’ faith may have failed him, but God’s faithfulness did not. He gave Moses a helper, Aaron. Aaron became the speaker while Moses performed miracles. Moses’ faith rose again and he stepped out.

The story goes on to recount the many trials and blessings. Every move, whether in the military or not, comes with trials and blessings. Each move, when I step out to follow God, He blesses me. From meeting Peachy, my Earthly angel, to meeting new friends, or reconnecting with old friends from other places.

Stepping out is hard but wonderful. It strengthens my faith and helps it grow in so many ways.

4 Steps to take to Flourish in Faith

1. Step across the aisle. Meet new people at church. Reach out to someone who sits around you or on the other side of the building. Greet them and introduce them to your friends.

2. Step around the cart. Help someone out at the store. Every time I visit a new store, it takes time to learn where to find things in their aisles.  Once you learn the system help others who look confused. 

3. Step across the street. Meet your neighbors. I don’t have neighbors across from my house but I have neighbors on either side and around me. Meeting them means they are not alone and you have new people to chat with.

4. Step out and smile. Greet strangers. Giving a smile to people you pass on a street or in a store can change their day. One of my friends reminded me the other day that I smiled at her while she was working which changed her whole day.  After that she came to church and saw me and stayed. I did not remember doing that but she claims it changed her life.

When you step out in faith, you are trusting God. The more you trust God the closer you grow to him.

Prayer for Stepping Out in Faith:

Lord, teach me to step out in faith every day. Teach me to trust you and rely on you. Lord, guide me in every situation. Amen.

Verses to Ponder:

Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. (Philippians 4:21 ESV)

All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. (Titus 3:15 ESV)

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matthew 21:22 ESV)

If you would like us to pray specifically for you, please visit the Planting Roots Prayer Request Page.