A Leap Starts With A Step Forward
“That’s one small step for a man, a giant leap for mankind.” ~Neil Armstrong
Over the past couple of years, I’ve written a lot about taking leaps of faith.
When you think of a leap, what comes to mind?
I don’t know about you, but I think of a giant lunge forward. I think of a Carl Lewis size jump ahead. I think of Michael Jordan taking off from the foul line on the way to an amazing slam dunk. I think of those crazy guys in wing suits who jump off of cliffs like they are flying squirrels.
I don’t usually think about an inch forward. Yet a small step can be just as terrifying as jumping out of a plane. And a small step may require just as much faith as something considered more extreme.
I want to encourage you to dream big, but I also want to remind you to start small.
What are you waiting for?
Why are you standing still as though your feet are stuck in concrete?
What small step of faith do you need to take today?
“Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20
I’ve talked a lot recently about going on a short-term mission trip. Maybe that is just too big and scary for you right now. Just maybe you need to take a smaller step right now.
Here are a five suggestions for taking smaller steps towards a short-term mission trip:
- Learn about a foreign land. Get on-line. Read about Guatemala. Learn about Haiti. Educate yourself about a part of the world that needs to know the love and hope of Jesus Christ.
- Connect with a missionary. Develop a pen pal relationship with a missionary from your church. Get on their mailing list, so you can read about their adventures and ministry.
- Pray. Pray that God would help you to take a bigger leap of faith in the future. Pray for the people and missionaries you are learning about.
- Get some skin in the game. Consider giving to a missionary you trust. Or consider supporting someone else as they pursue their own short-term mission trip. Your financial contribution – big or small – could have a huge impact on those in need.
- Start today. Do something small today. Don’t wait until tomorrow. It probably won’t happen if you keep putting it off.