Walking Free: Taking Small Steps to a Big God by Micah TylerSample

As Christ-followers, we are all very different. Some of us will take huge risks of faith and try to run when we need to just focus on our walk. Others have to test the waters and be certain before stepping out to try what God wants. Regardless of our approach to walking in faith, because of sin, we will stump our toes, walk where we aren’t supposed to go, and sometimes we just aren’t paying attention. But, we’re bound to fall and sometimes get hurt. Maybe even injure someone else in the process, intentional or not.

One of the first problems we must overcome when we stumble and fall is knowing God doesn’t want us to wallow on the ground in our mistakes and sin. Jesus already took care of our debt and penalty. We don’t have to “pay” for anything because He has already taken care of that. His grace and provision allow us to ask for forgiveness, get back up, and go.

The bottom line is that to walk in freedom, we must accept that learning to stand means overcoming our stumbles. Along the way, as a Good Father, we must keep in mind His goal is for us not only to learn to stand but stand strong. Under His grace, we get back up and move forward—one step at a time. Before we can ever “take a stand for Him,” we must learn to simply stand firm.

The beauty of a relationship with Jesus is that He can teach us how to get back up when we stumble, when we fall, and even when we get hurt by the traps in this world. As we grow and mature, He can and will show us ways to avoid the traps next time. He has made a way for us to move beyond those things, get past those things, and get through those things. Sometimes, we will have to walk through a dark valley to get where we need to go. Other times, we may experience the mountaintop to get there. But valley, peak, or anywhere in between, He is always leading us, walking with us.

Is anything causing you to stumble or even fall right now?

How does today’s Bible passage encourage and inspire you to stand up and stand strong in your faith?