Trusting God One Step at a Time

By: Stacey Barkley

Photo image courtesy Pixabay

You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You. -- Isaiah 26:3 (HCSB)

Have you ever stood at the base of a mountain and wondered, ‘How am I ever going to make it to the top?’

Last spring, I found myself asking that question while hiking Hedgehog Mountain in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The trail was steep, my legs burned, and more than once I stopped to catch my breath and whisper, "Lord, help me."

He did.

Not by making the climb easier or showing me the entire path ahead, but by giving me exactly what I needed for the next step.

Eventually, I reached the summit, and the breathtaking view reminded me of a truth I often forget: God doesn't ask us to see the whole journey. He asks us to trust Him one step at a time.

Today, I find myself facing a different mountain. My husband, Brian, is recovering from knee replacement surgery. Technically, it's his mountain to climb, but anyone who loves someone deeply knows that caregivers climb the mountain too.

I wrap his knee, refill frozen bottles for the ice machine, set alarms for medications, and watch him push through painful physical therapy sessions. Some days feel exhausting. Some moments feel overwhelming.

Yet this season has reminded me of what God taught me on that mountain trail in New Hampshire: I don't have to trust my own strength because, "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped." (Psalm 28:7, HCSB)

 I only have to trust Him.

So often, we want God to provide strength for the entire journey all at once. Instead, He invites us to trust Him for today. When fear and exhaustion threaten to overwhelm us, He reminds us, "Do not fear, for I am with you… I will strengthen you; I will help you." (Isaiah 41:10, HCSB)

Maybe you're staring at your own mountain today: caregiving, grief, uncertainty, or a season that feels heavier than you expected. Remember the mountains God has already brought you through. His faithfulness hasn't changed. We don't have to know how the journey ends. We simply have to trust the One who walks with us every step of the way.

God rarely reveals the entire path ahead, but He always provides enough grace for the next step.

Questions for Reflection:

1. What mountain are you facing in this season of life?

2. How has God shown His faithfulness to you in previous difficult seasons?

3. What is one practical way you can trust God with your "next step" today?