Day 4 Devotional: Turn by Turn, One Foot In Front Of The Other

Chasing Hope: The pursuit of a Hope that lasts

Day 4: Turn by Turn, One Foot In Front Of The Other

The night I received my cancer diagnosis I was alone in a hotel room. I had already called my wife and told her, she prayed with me, and we had agreed that this was not going to be the focal point of our future, our relationship, or our conversations. Now all of that sounds good, but the reality is, when left to myself to think about all things, I had a lot to consider. I had the treatment plan my doctor talked about, the existing treatment I was already on for my immune system issues, I was thinking about my business and about how I was going to go about selling it and stepping down from running it. I wondered how I was going to tell our kids, and how I was going to make it through the next few days; all of these things were spiraling in my mind. Those led to other thoughts such as the “When/If I die who is going to..” questions, which are rabbit holes and dark, nearly unavoidable ones to go down. This is often how hopeless situations can manifest themselves in our minds: overwhelming, dark, and lonely.  We can stand amid our suffering and wonder how we are ever going to make it through, and continue to question what lies ahead.  I was reminded in my hotel room that night of one of my favorite verses. I typically applied it to worrying about ministry and business decisions, however, that night I realized it has a far greater meaning that would be essential to fighting this battle.

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. - Mathew 6:33-34

 If we keep looking too far ahead and allow all the what if’s to come flooding in, we can question our ability to make it through to reach the proverbial finish line. One of the greatest pieces of advice I have ever been given was while I trained for my first Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb race. I remember right before I got into the race car my driving coach said, look ahead, keep your eyes up, but take it one turn at a time, if you don’t you will end up overwhelmed, off track, and in the fence.

This was good advice: turn by turn, don’t worry about the finish line because if you do you will become overwhelmed with what is between that finish line and all the corners to get there. In the same way, we need the same approach in our journey through hopelessness and suffering, we walk through it and out of it, one step at a time. One foot in front of the other takes faith in trusting God. All we need is to know the next step, not the next ten, or five, but just the next step in obedience. We often want to know the whole path, assuming unlimited knowledge will bring us peace. but the truth is, it likely would just give us more things to worry about. One foot in front of the other implies this declaration: I am not looking behind, I am not looking ahead, I am looking just enough to see my next foot planted, not too far out where I begin to worry about the future. This mentality keeps me from living in the past, and worrying about the future.  It helps me focus on Gods direction and plan for my life as I walk through and out of the hopelessness. We must realize God has good in store for us, the devil has comfortable in store for us.  The good comes from activity, the comfortable comes from neglect.

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11

This verse comes from the prophet Jeremiah, he is writing to the exiles what the Lord said to Him regarding them.  Now mind you these people the exiles were cast out by Nebuchadnezzar they were priests, prophets and others that stood for the Lord.  He doesn’t open the letter saying God is going to deliver you tomorrow, instead, he says, build houses, and get to growing your own food, basically saying you are going to be here a while.  The exiles were feeling hopeless, forgotten and alone, then here comes letter from Jeremiah, and it opens not with deliverance, but with advice to put one foot in front of the other. The Lord has plans to prosper and not harm them, and it was in the midst of the struggle, in the midst of hopelessness that God was going to do that. It was not after he delivered them, but while he was delivering them over seventy years! This is a stark reminder that we must walk step by step, one foot in front of the other in obedience, and God will walk with us through it and out of it, as He unfolds His beautiful purpose and plan for life, giving us hope and a future!!

 Assignment:

Write down what is your next step and why you will feel its what God wants.

What is something that distracts you while you put one foot in front of the other?

Set a goal for this week, what will be the step you have taken this week to walk out of your situation?

 Prayer

Dear Lord, I thank you that you do have plans for me, not to harm me, but to give me hope and a future- both which I can walk in daily as I seek you for my next step.  Help me God to put one foot in front of the other, one step ahead of the other: forgetting what is behind me and looking to what is ahead of me.  Lord, give me the self-control to not focus on my problems, but the you as problem solver. Give me strength of mind to remember the promise, strength in my heart and soul to cling to the promise, and remind me to seek and pursue hope.  I ask you Father to over come my hopelessness with your Love, your amazing loving plan for my life, wiping out all lies with the truth and your love. May I walk in obedience step by step following only you, in Jesus Name I pray.  Amen.