Last fall, we began writing from the overarching theme of “Becoming the Authentic You.” The first step to becoming the authentic you was acknowledging where you were and taking stock in where you were. The second step to becoming the authentic you was figuring out who you want to be or (more importantly) who God says you are. The next step to becoming the authentic you is determining where you go from here. What are your next steps? You have decided who you want to be; now it’s time to take the steps toward getting there.
In “Men of the Bible,” there is an article about Noah. He was given an assignment, and he needed to prepare and take the steps necessary to complete the assignment. He continued on his steps despite any doubt, uncertainty, or ridicule he may have been facing. Noah stuck to the project that God gave him. There was a waiting time, and he was ready when it was time to complete it.
In “Women of the Bible,” there is an article about Noah’s wife. She accepted the call alongside her husband. She had to go through the same planning and preparation as Noah. She had to be secure in God regardless of any doubters, and she had to be ready when it was time to move. She was a woman who remained confident in her God and in her husband.
And it can be hard to take the next steps. Sometimes our next steps can be clearly lit and the path is easy to see. But sometimes our next steps seem to lead to a dark path that is dimly lit. In the case of Noah and his wife, they were obedient to God. They continued to take steps with the faith that their next step would be met with a solid foundation.
We can also look at the example of Peter walking on water. He was fine with his next steps until he took his eyes off of Christ. We can see Peter’s journey of becoming his authentic self. Peter went from a brash, impatient man to being the rock that the church was built upon.
Becoming our authentic selves is the key to opening up the doors to living out our purposes in God. It allows us to be real with ourselves. We can understand and accept our pasts and what happened that formed us. These are the things that made us the way we are. As we get over those obstacles, we can in turn minister to someone in a similar situation. It is our journey that prepares us for our destiny.
As you move forward in your next steps, you have the security of knowing that God has been preparing you for such a time as this. The good, bad, and otherwise events of your life have been preparing you for the steps you are about to take. This is a time when your gifts and talents are so needed and vital to the Kingdom of God.
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