“Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.”
Hebrews 11:2
Look!
Shoes!
Two of them, in fact!
You don’t seem suitably impressed. Let’s try this again.
I’ve been stuck in a cast boot for months. I’ve been hobbling and unable to handle much movement.
So on a recent road trip when I ditched the boot and went for a walk in two shoes, it was a momentous occasion!
I’m not gonna lie. I cried. Not loud. Not dramatically. But those tears leaked down my cheeks just the same, because I was walking.
Not far, mind you. I needed some help from hubby when we hit a few icy and wet patches – but it counted as a walk, and that felt good!
It wouldn’t have set any land speed records. It wasn’t fancy. It was a little awkward, to be honest.
But it was a real walk!
In shoes!
(Did I mention I was in actual real shoes?)
Pure. Joy.
Baby steps.
One foot in front of the other.
It still hurts. It isn’t natural or confident, but I did it.
And friend, it reminds me that our faith works a lot like that walk! Because we have to start somewhere. It might feel awkward. It isn’t natural or fluid or effortless. It takes practice. We need to take things slowly. But those baby steps, one foot in front of the other, lead to a lifetime of greatness.
Look at the heroes of our faith! Daniel didn’t wake up randomly one day ready to withstand the political pressures placed against him when his enemies tricked the king into making a law that sent him to the lion’s den. No. He had taken many, many baby steps in his faith journey first – one decision, one action at a time landed him in a position to greatly influence the king in ways which had huge consequences.
Or Joseph. He didn’t just become a wise ruler in an instant. His character had been fashioned through difficult circumstances, polished by his time spent unjustly in prison for a crime he never committed.
Or David, who was anointed king years before he actually gained the kingdom and spent a good portion of his time hiding in caves from Saul, who wanted him dead.
Tough stuff.
You better believe their characters were refined, built, and shaped by the small choices, the daily practice of placing their faith in a God they couldn’t always see, let alone understand.
Baby steps.
Baby steps, that led them to the dramatic moments where their faith became reality and the promises and miracles were poured out.
Wherever you are today, whatever circumstances you find yourself in, even the mundane days count. Every time you say no to the temptation to take the credit or act selfishly or make that snide comment, you are taking a baby step. Every time you say yes to an act of kindness, say a prayer, choose the higher ground, you are taking a baby step.
And those baby steps?
They add up to a real, live walk. A lifetime of faith which becomes a good reputation because of all the small actions taken.
Keep taking those baby steps with me?
Father, the heroes of our faith made dramatic choices which still encourage us today! Remind us that those dramatic moments only happened because of their faithfulness in the small daily choices. Help us to choose You in the baby steps presented to us each day! Amen.
Growing in Grace 