The way you have not passed before

Hey friend,

I was thinking about something today that I really feel like you need to hear, especially as you keep growing in your walk with God. It’s something simple but super important, and honestly, it’s something I wish someone had explained to me earlier.

You know how after you’ve been following God for a while, it can start to feel like you kinda "get it"? Like you know the drill — you pray, you read your Bible, you try to be a good person, and you feel like you and God are in a rhythm. And that’s awesome — it shows growth! But here’s the catch: sometimes, without even realizing it, we start to think we’ve got things under control. We start acting like we can walk side-by-side with God, almost like we’re partners in this thing. We treat it like a 50/50 relationship, where we put in our part and expect God to do His part too.

But that’s not how it works, man. And if we’re not careful, that kind of thinking can actually trip us up.

There’s this powerful reminder in the Bible, in Joshua 3:4. It’s right when the Israelites are about to cross into the Promised Land. God tells them that they’ve never been this way before — this is new territory. So what does He say? He tells them to keep a distance between themselves and the Ark of the Covenant (which represented His presence), because they needed to follow it, not walk right next to it. Why? Because they didn’t know the way. They had to watch carefully where God was leading and trust Him step-by-step, not assume they knew the path.

That’s huge!! Let that sink in.

There are going to be so many times in your life — and honestly, you might be in one of those times right now — where you’re stepping into something brand new. New seasons, new challenges, new responsibilities. You’re not going to have a map. You’re not going to have a detailed five-year plan from God spelled out for you. You’re just going to have Him — His presence, His word, His voice. And in those times, it’s critical that you let God lead.

Not walk beside Him like you’re equals. Not sprint ahead because you think you know where He’s going. And definitely not drag your feet thinking you have a better idea. You follow Him. Step by step. Moment by moment.

And listen, this isn’t about being weak or clueless. It’s about being wise. It’s about recognizing that God sees the whole picture and we don’t. It’s about trusting Him enough to say, "God, I’m not even going to pretend I know what I’m doing here. Lead the way. I’ll follow."

It makes me think of hiking, actually. When you are taking a new trail and you want to take shortcuts because you think you spotted a faster way? Most times you end up getting lost! It’s funny, but that’s exactly what happens spiritually when we think we can lead ourselves. We can’t see the dips, the dangers, the cliffs ahead. Only God can. So sticking close behind Him and letting Him set the pace is not just the safest move — it’s the smartest.

Another thing: when the Bible says to “look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2), it’s saying that Jesus isn’t just the one who starts your journey of faith. He’s also the one who finishes it. He’s writing your story, bro, from page one to the very last sentence. That means you can trust Him even when the chapter you’re in doesn’t make any sense.

You don’t need to have everything figured out. You don’t need to force anything. You just need to keep your eyes locked on Him. When you don’t know what to do, keep following. When you’re unsure if you’re even on the right path, keep following. When life feels exciting and when it feels terrifying, keep following.

And let’s be real — sometimes you’re going to feel tempted to speed things up. Or you’ll think, “God, I got this part, you can just meet me at the next stop.” Don’t fall for it. That’s pride sneaking in. Stay humble. Stay dependent. Stay in step.

I’ll be honest with you — letting God lead isn’t always easy. Sometimes it feels slow. Sometimes it feels confusing. And sometimes it feels like you’re missing out when you see other people rushing ahead. But trust me, you’re not missing anything worth having if you’re walking with God. He’s taking you exactly where you need to go, and He’s building something in you along the way that rushing could never accomplish.

So here’s my prayer for you, little bro — that you’ll have the courage to slow down, to stay behind Jesus, and to trust His leadership even when the road gets rough. May God help you (and all of us, honestly) to follow well.

We’re in this together, man. I’m proud of you. Keep going — and remember, eyes on Jesus.

Love you, Friend!!