The Power of the Next Step

Over the years, whenever our team faced a major challenge and found ourselves stressing about what to do next, a familiar phrase would come up again and again:

“How do you eat an elephant?”

And the answer, of course, is:

“One bite at a time.”

It sounds a little funny, but it contains a powerful truth.

Most worthwhile things in life feel overwhelming when we first look at them.

A big dream.

A difficult challenge.

A major life transition.

A broken relationship.

A new opportunity.

A calling from God.

When we focus on the entire journey, it’s easy to become intimidated.

Sometimes the task ahead seems so large that we don’t know where to begin.

And when we don’t know where to begin, we often don’t begin at all.

Why So Many People Get Stuck

I’ve seen it happen countless times.

People look at a mountain and become paralyzed because they can’t see a path to the top.

They look at a five-year plan and become discouraged because they can’t imagine how they’ll ever get there.

They see everything that needs to change in their lives and conclude that it’s simply too much.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

Most people don’t fail because they can’t take the tenth step. They fail because they’re overwhelmed by the thought of taking all ten steps at once.

The truth is:

• You can’t fix everything in your life today.

• You can’t accomplish a massive vision overnight.

• You can’t rebuild a healthy marriage in a weekend.

• You can’t write a book in an afternoon.

• You can’t become physically healthy in a week.

• You can’t solve every problem you’re facing all at once.

Big things are usually accomplished through small steps taken consistently over time.

That’s true in life.

It’s true in leadership.

It’s true in business.

It’s true in relationships.

And it’s certainly true in our walk with God.

One Step at a Time

When I began writing The Courage to Move Forward, I wasn’t staring at a finished manuscript.

I was staring at a blank page.

Truthfully, the idea of writing an entire book felt overwhelming.

The same thing happened later when I began working on a daily devotional that would eventually contain more than 365 entries.

Looking at the finished project was intimidating.

But eventually I realized something important:

I didn’t have to write the entire book.

I only had to write the next paragraph.

I didn’t have to complete the entire devotional.

I only had to write today’s entry.

That’s how most worthwhile things are accomplished.

• One step.

• One page.

• One conversation.

• One decision.

• One act of obedience.

Then another.

And another.

God Rarely Gives the Entire Blueprint

One of the things I love about Scripture is that God rarely gives people the entire plan.

Think about Abraham.

God didn’t hand him a detailed map of the future.

He simply said, “Go.”

Think about Moses.

Joshua.

Nehemiah.

Peter stepping out of the boat.

Again and again, God provided enough direction for the next step—but not necessarily the next ten.

I remember about three years after we planted our church, I was getting out of bed one morning and knelt down to pray.

I said:

“God, thank You for not showing me everything I was getting ready to do.”

If He had, I might never have started.

But because He only showed me the next step, I kept moving forward.

If God showed us everything ahead, most of us would be overwhelmed.

So instead, He gives us enough light for the step we’re standing on.

Trust the Path You Can’t Fully See

That’s why Proverbs 3:5–6 remains such a powerful promise:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Notice what the verse doesn’t say.

It doesn’t say God will show you every detail of your future.

It says He will direct your path.

And a path is discovered one step at a time.

One of the biggest mistakes we make is believing we need complete clarity before we move forward.

But I’ve discovered something different:

Clarity often comes after we move.

Many times, God reveals the second step after we’ve taken the first.

The path becomes clearer as we walk it.

The courage grows as we use it.

The confidence comes as we move forward.

What Is Your Next Step?

That’s why so many people remain stuck.

They’re waiting until they can see the whole journey.

Meanwhile, God is inviting them to take the next step.

Maybe that’s where you find yourself today.

Maybe you’re facing a challenge that feels too big.

Maybe you’re carrying a dream that seems impossible.

Maybe you’re trying to rebuild after a failure.

Maybe you’re seeking direction for the future.

Maybe you’re waiting for all the answers before you move.

Can I encourage you with a simple thought?

Stop trying to solve everything today.

Instead, ask yourself one question:

“What is my next step?”

Not the next ten steps.

Not the entire plan.

Not the complete blueprint.

Just the next step.

Maybe it’s making a phone call.

Maybe it’s having a difficult conversation.

Maybe it’s opening your Bible.

Maybe it’s meeting with a counselor.

Maybe it’s filling out an application.

Maybe it’s taking a walk.

Maybe it’s writing the first page.

Maybe it’s praying an honest prayer.

Maybe it’s simply choosing to get up and try again tomorrow.

Never Underestimate One Faithful Step

Don’t underestimate the power of one faithful step.

Every journey is made up of individual steps.

Every accomplishment is built one day at a time.

Every great vision is fulfilled through a series of ordinary decisions.

And every life transformed by God is transformed one step at a time.

Maybe you’re staring at something today that feels impossible:

A dream.

A challenge.

A loss.

A calling.

A fresh start.

And maybe you’re overwhelmed because you can’t see the entire path.

That’s okay.

Most of us can’t.

You don’t have to figure out the next five years today.

You don’t have to solve every problem.

You don’t have to eat the whole elephant.

You just need to take the next step.

Then tomorrow, take another.

And another.

Take the First Bite

Before long, you’ll discover that what once seemed impossible has become reality—not because of one giant leap, but because of hundreds of faithful steps.

The next step may seem small.

But never underestimate what God can do through one step of faith.

So take the step.

Whatever it is.

Then trust God with the rest.

And then take another.

Because you’ll never eat an elephant until you take the first bite.

And you’ll never discover what God can do through your life until you take the next step.