Following Him before I see the whole way.
A devotional shared by Karmen W.
Karmen is a wife, mom of four, and business owner with a passion for bringing people, ideas, and opportunities together. She loves traveling, discovering great food, cooking for the people she loves, and is always chasing a little sunshine. As the leader of Becoming a Woman of God life group, Karmen is passionate about helping women embrace their identity in Christ, find confidence in who God created them to be, and experience genuine belonging and community.
SCRIPTURE
Proverbs 3:5–6
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Today’s Encouragement
A couple of years ago, my husband and I traveled to Sedona, Arizona, during a season when we were seeking God's direction. I was longing for a deeper relationship with Him, believing that spiritual maturity might eventually mean hearing His direction so clearly that I would always know exactly what to do.
During our visit to the Chapel of the Holy Cross, I experienced a special moment in prayer. I felt God reminding me that I didn't need to understand everything before moving forward. I needed to trust Him enough to know he’d be there to guide me toward what’s next.
What happened afterward brought that lesson to life.
Before checking out to head home, we decided to explore one last scenic area. What we expected to be a quick 20-minute walk became an unexpected three-hour mountain hike. We hadn't planned to hike that day, so we weren't equipped with the appropriate gear or even water.
As we made our way along the uneven trail, I found myself looking down, carefully considering where to place my feet. I wanted to maintain a steady pace without slowing down the hikers behind me, but I kept getting caught up in figuring out where to step.
Then it occurred to me: I didn't need to figure out every step. I just needed to focus on where to place my foot next.
And suddenly, I recognized the connection to what I'd experienced earlier that day.
God wasn't asking me to see the whole path. He was teaching me to trust Him with the step in front of me.
As we continued, the terrain became rocky, steep, and challenging. There were moments when we questioned whether to turn back. But along the way, we encountered hikers returning from the summit who encouraged us to keep going.
Their testimonies reminded me of how we grow in our trust in God.
Through Scripture, prayer, and remembering His faithfulness, we come to know His character. And the more we know Him, the more we learn to trust Him, even when we cannot see what lies ahead.
My grandmother often reminded our family of Proverbs 3:5–6. I've known those words since childhood, but I've spent my life learning how to live them.
I'm grateful that God doesn't require us to have all the answers. He invites us to trust Him as we grow in our relationship with Him.
Make Room for Jesus Today
Is there an area of your life where you've been waiting for certainty before taking a step?
Today, take a few moments to bring that uncertainty to Jesus. Spend time in prayer and His Word. Ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and discernment, and consider what your next faithful step might be.
Sometimes that step is moving forward. Sometimes it's walking away. And sometimes it's surrendering the need to know exactly what comes next.
You don't have to know where the entire path leads when you know the One you're following.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your faithfulness, Your love, and Your constant presence in our lives.
Help us trust You when the path ahead is uncertain. Give us wisdom through Your Word, guidance through Your Holy Spirit, and the courage to take the next faithful step.
Forgive us for the times we've relied more on our own understanding than on You. Teach us to seek You first and trust Your direction.
Thank You for walking with us, even when we cannot see the whole way.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
