In the last year, I have celebrated some of the smallest things in the biggest ways. Last August, we had our daughter, Mabel, and there has been an immense amount of joy and celebration that has come with watching her grow. We have celebrated smiles, first words, and high fives. We have celebrated long stretches of sleep and bites of new foods. And more recently, we are celebrating the small, slow steps that Mabel is beginning to take. She stands up in confidence, locks her eyes on where she wants to go, then as her body starts to wobble, she moves one foot forward. She starts to wobble a little more, and she moves her second foot forward. It’s almost like after that second small step, she realizes her steps are just too small and just too slow, so she plops down and starts bear-crawling away (probably towards something we have redirected her from a thousand times – think, dog bowls, electrical outlets, trashcans, you name it!).
It’s always incredible to me how much God uses children, whether you are a parent or not, to teach us about who He is and who He has created us to be. As little Mabel is learning to take, quite literally, the smallest, slowest steps, we stand beside her encouraging her and celebrating with her. The same is true in our spiritual walk with God. As we take steps towards Him, He is encouraging us, guiding us, and celebrating with us. No matter where we are in our walk with God, He is delighting in each and every step of obedience and growth that we are taking. It’s beautiful that we are all walking at different paces.
Some of us are just trying to figure out how to stand. We are wondering who God is and what it looks like to have a real relationship with Him. We are curious as to what it means to worship God with our whole lives and live in discipleship with one another.
Some of us might be standing while gripping onto whatever is around us. We know who Jesus is. We know what He has done for us, but we are figuring out how to let go of the sin and burdens that we have been gripping onto for so long – all so that we can fully surrender to Him.
Others of us might be just like Mabel; we have our eyes locked on the beauty and goodness of Christ, but the steps we are taking towards Him are shaky. We might be trying to figure out what it means to be a prayer warrior, to give generously to the work God is doing, or to show forgiveness in the most difficult moments. One wobbly step at a time, we are moving towards the open arms of the Father, just as a small child is taking those same steps towards the open arms of their parent.
There’s also those of us who are walking, maybe even running, in confidence towards Christ. We are trusting Him enough with our life to continue to take bold steps wherever He is leading. We didn’t start out sprinting to get here; instead, God has faithfully held our hand as we have trusted Him in the good, the bad, the beautiful, and the ugly.
No matter how fast or slow you’re going right now or how steady or shaky your steps are, God is delighting in the steps of obedience you are taking to be near and close to Him. The smallest, wobbliest steps of faith are leading you to something far greater than yourself; they are leading you to a life that is full and rich in Christ alone. In the moments you might feel like it would be easier to sit down and bear-crawl away, know that with each step, God is standing with His arms open wide, revealing more of who He is and who He has created you to be as a Child of God. Your steps aren’t too small. And they certainly aren’t too wobbly. Each step is met with celebration and joy as you grow in Christ.
Contact Alyssa
