One Step at a Time: Learning to follow God

Total darkness filled the small space between the rock walls and my shoulders. The space was only slightly larger between the top of my head and the rock ceiling above. Frigid water came up almost to my knees.

Sometimes the walls on either side crept in close enough to require I turn sideways in order to squeeze through the passageway. Other times, even with my short stature, I had to bend at the waist to not hit my head on the rock ceiling. Now and again the water would rise to my hips.

I trekked through Hezekiah’s tunnel in Jerusalem with my husband six years ago. The encompassing darkness and stinging cold water are still fresh in my memory, however. Jimmy led the way in front with only our video camera to light the way as we hiked through the darkness. Although the narrowness of the tunnel prohibited our separation, I held on to either his shirt tail or rested my hand on his shoulder as I followed behind. With him between me and our light source, all I could see was the section of tunnel directly on either side of me. If I turned around behind me, all was utter darkness. The tunnel was so narrow I couldn’t see past Jimmy’s head to glimpse what lie in front of us.

Fast forward to current events… Grow Barefoot has a lot going on right now. We are growing faster than we are equipped to handle; at least equipped to handle on our own. Prayer is really the only way to handle life when things start to get overwhelming. As I recently prayed through the expanding list of writing and mission projects, God reminded me of one of His truths. When our circumstances seem overwhelming, we can trust Him to guide and provide one step at a time. The recollection of this truth led me to imagine myself clinging to God’s shirt tails as I follow Him step-by-step. This mental picture brought the long ago memories of our trek through Hezekiah’s Tunnel to the forefront of my mind.

As was the case in that dark tunnel, I don’t know what lies ahead. The hard circumstances I walk through might press in so close that I have to turn sideways in order to squeeze through at times. Looking back might offer little assurance other than the fact that I made it through that part of the journey which provides a little comfort for the rest of the journey.

“‘Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’ By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive” (John 7:38-39).

The water in that cold, dark tunnel was the only thing moving; the only thing resembling life and the promise of an end. Likewise, the presence of the Spirit within our lives is sometimes the only thing that keeps us moving. He is the promise of the end. Even when the way is dark and we really have no clue where we’re going. We cling to God's shirt tails as He leads us through every step and rely on the movement of the Spirit within us to bring us to the end.

Do you ever cling to God’s shirt tails, just hoping to make it through? Have you ever allowed the Spirit’s power to flow through you and carry you to the end? I’d love to read your thoughts in the comment section below.