Dear Writer, I hope you had a beautiful week and considered how short-form writing might catalyze your work! This week, we’re going to explore how one small step can begin untethering you from what’s held you back.
You see, sometimes we feel so stuck we imagine only a great event could free us. This is a lie from the enemy! More often, the truth is that entering into our God-given freedom to write begins by taking one small step. Then another. And another.
But before we dive in, let’s look at some others whose small step toward freedom set them on a trajectory for success…
Small Steps in History
Amy Carmichael took a small but powerful step toward becoming untethered as a young girl. On the way home from church one day, Amy and her brother saw a beggar woman stagger out of an alley. Feeling sorry for her, they went to help. But when other church members passed by, Amy hid her face, embarrassed to be seen with the beggar.
In that moment, the Lord spoke to her heart, and Amy realized, though her actions appeared kind, her heart was wrong. Amy decided then and there to hold her head high, and promised God she would only do things that pleased Him. This small step was the beginning of Amy’s amazing journey as a missionary.
Over the years she served in several countries, but final and most well-known work was done in India. Amy’s faithful service among the Indian people reached every level of society and left a lasting impact on Indian culture. And it all began with a small step of obedience in the streets of Ireland.
Small Steps in the Bible
Hannah is another beautiful example of a woman who took a small step toward freedom. Though loved dearly by her husband, Hannah’s barrenness and her rival’s taunts made her life miserable. Finally, one year as Hannah’s family went to Shiloh to offer sacrifices, Hannah took a small step away from her troubles and entered the tabernacle to pour out her heart before the Lord.
Eli the priest mistook Hannah for a drunken woman, but when he realized the depth of her pain, he gave her his blessing. Nothing changed immediately, but when Hannah rose from her time of prayer, her face was no longer sad.
That small step of vulnerability set Hannah on a path toward healing, blessing, and ultimately the fulfillment of her heart’s desire. She gave birth to a son, Samuel, who became one of the greatest judges of Israel.
Small Steps in Life
I took a small step toward becoming untethered when I participated in a Start-Up Weekend with my husband. At the time, the event was a brand new idea to help first-time entrepreneurs brainstorm, vote on, and actually “start up” five winning business ideas over the course of a weekend.
The first night of the event, about 35 dreamers stepped up to share their business concepts. I had ideas of my own but no plan whatsoever to share! I had long ago decided I wasn’t cut out for public speaking. But after the final attendee shared their dream with a trembling voice and shaky hands, I realized I couldn’t do a worse job presenting than any of these other brave souls.
So I stood and, with my own tremble and shake, shared my business idea. To my surprise, it was one of the winning five. And I found myself leading a small team in an attempt to launch the idea that weekend!
Small Steps in Your Life
My small step of courage changed how I viewed myself. I realized I could indeed become an effective communicator. A gift that God has developed and that I have used every day since. And here’s the thing…
Taking a small step toward freedom often involves a small act of courage. Or a small act of obedience. There is nothing more powerful than obedience when it comes to unlocking the call of God for your life. When we obey, God unlocks new levels of understanding about God, ourselves, and our calling. Let me prove it to you…
- Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. – Proverbs 3:5-6
- Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun. – Psalm 37:3-6
- “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:8-9
- But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. – James 1:22-25
You see, writer, small steps of courageous obedience are what prepare us for the call of God on our lives. Through them we experience His presence, power, and wisdom as we learn to rely on who He is instead of our own limited sills, abilities, and resources. Because here’s the thing…
Our small steps of obedience often addresses what’s been misaligned in our hearts that’s prevented us from moving forward. But the amazing thing is that, as we take one small step after another, we’re able to bring God’s freedom to others, too.
Where to Start with Small Steps
So are you ready to consider what small step you might take? Here are some things to keep in mind…
- Be Open. Sometimes, the only obstacle between us and one small step toward freedom are the things that we’ve told ourselves we’d never do. Be open to ways God might be prompting you to take a small step toward an area of fear. God is the one who makes us fearless, but courage often comes during or after our step of obedience.
- Go New Places. Sometimes our small step of freedom comes as we make ourselves available to new experiences. After all, my small step began by agreeing to attend this new “Start-Up” event to support my husband. It can be hard to recognize or take small steps when we literally stay in the same place.
- Take a Rest. Set aside one day a week to rest from regular work in order to spend time dreaming, imagining, playing, experiencing, and connecting with God and others. Having a regular day of rest allows you to lift your gaze from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and to invest in interests outside your normal spheres of influence.
- Don’t Fear Failure. Realize failure is not your enemy. Failure is your friend and can become one of your most powerful allies as you allow God to teach you through each one. In fact, failure is a necessary part of any growth process. The only true enemy to freedom is fear…
You see, one of the strongest fetters to freedom is fear of failure. Fear of failure has aborted many dreams before they ever begin. But fear is almost always a fabrication. Especially in an area where God has spoken. Because if God has called you to a work, He already knows that, with Him, you cannot fail. In fact, the only way to fail in His Kingdom is to give up. Or simply to never begin.
After all, imagine if Amy had remained cowed by others’ opinions? India would have missed the impact of the Gospel for decades. If Hannah continued to live as a victim instead of surrendering her pain to God, we may never have had the prophet Samuel who anointed Israel’s first kings. If I had allowed fear to keep me in my seat, I may never have learned to equip others to share their own message. In each case, our small step built strength for the next, and the next, as God used each one to lead us into our calling.
So if you’ve felt overwhelmed by God’s call to write, or if you’ve simply felt stuck under the weight and press of life, I encourage you today to take a step back and ask God what small step He may be asking you to take. As we take that small step of obedience, we have no idea where God’s path will lead, or how many may be impacted along the way.
#smallstep #obey #EveryWriterWriting
