“So don’t worry about tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes” – Matthew 6:34 (MSG)
Life is full of uncertainties. In my life, it was moving across the state following my husband’s job. We face seasons of joy and abundance, but we also endure trials that shake our faith. In those difficult moments, it’s easy for me to fall into fear, worry, and to give in to loneliness. Yet, Jesus reminds us that our Heavenly Father knows our needs and will provide for us each day.
The world tells us to have a plan for everything; each move brought us to a new city with the promise of stability for him, but uncertainty for me. We have left friends, support, and family to begin in a town where, for the first few weeks, we must have directions to our own house. In these times of need for literal directions to know how to navigate our surroundings, we can feel the most alone. However, faith teaches us to trust, even when we don’t have all the answers. Proverbs 3:5-6 (MSG) says, “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.”
While this did mean I needed to be responsible for the items within my control, such as household, job, and church attendance, I was reminded that my ultimate security is in God, not in our circumstances or location. When we release our worries to Him, we make room for His peace to take over. He never fails to provide opportunities, people, or provisions when we lean into his understanding, rather than relying on our own.
Matthew 17:20 (MSG), “The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle.”
For our family, faith is not merely about having every detail and aspect of life neatly arranged; instead, it is about placing our trust in the One who possesses all understanding and wisdom. When all else has failed, showing up and being present in moments with others from school to church has brought clarity when the path is foggy. Embracing the beauty of taking small, deliberate steps of obedience has strengthened each nugget of faith.
The deliberate steps for us have always started with unified prayer. Whether it’s just the two of us or groups of friends or colleagues, there is power in seeking Him. We have also found answers in the Bible, without knowing the next steps on our journey. Right before we were stationed in Odessa, we had been reading about provisions in the desert during the Israelites’ journey. We were both immediately blessed with jobs, found a church, and joined a marriage ministry that filled holes in our marriage we never knew existed. We still credit many of our current marriage practices to that time and the need to lean heavily on God, because He saw us through that season of literal and figurative deserts.
As I dare to step out in faith, I discover that God meets me with His boundless power and unwavering provision, guiding me through unknown terrain. This was a great comfort when we arrived, since Odessa was a far cry from the lush trees and lakes we left in Austin and the piney woods of Houston. While the number of times you start over and step out may never come naturally (or at least it hasn’t for me), understanding God’s purposeful plan offers comfort.
Even when the turpitude of life remains obscured, trust that God is illuminating the way forward, revealing the next step for you to take. Each act of surrender to Him becomes a thread woven into the larger narrative that He has in store for us. No matter what season you are in, remember that God is faithful. He sees you, He loves you, and “He is working all things together for your good” (Romans 8:28, MSG).
Choose today to walk in faith, not fear, and watch how God moves in your life above and beyond your wildest expectation.
We want to thank Kate McCandless for sharing this post.
Women's Ministry 