The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.~Psalm 37:23-24 NLT
Taking steps can be scary. Stepping in the right direction can be even more frightening.
I remember when my children and grandchildren first began to take steps. First, they pulled up on a piece of furniture. Then they let go and reached for the nearest thing to grasp, taking only one step to get from point A to point B. But when nothing presented itself for them to hold, taking a step became a frightening experience. Many falls and stumbles followed, but the expression on their faces when they had mastered the process of walking was priceless.
My life steps have taken me in many directions. When hiking in the mountains, my steps took me over roots, rocks, moss-covered ledges, narrow paths, and deep ruts. One misstep could have resulted in a broken bone or even death. My steps, some intentional and some not, have taken me to places where danger lurked. They’ve taken me down roads where I’ve known a measure of success. They’ve also taken me into the company of bad company.
Although the psalmist maintained that God directed the steps of His children and delighted in the details of their lives, God also won’t force me to step in His direction. His endowment to humanity was free will so that following Him was voluntary, not forced.
Stepping in the right direction means we won’t step where we might want to step, but rather where God wants us to walk. Prior to knowing Christ, our sinful natures led us to perpetually step in the wrong direction. But the new nature Christ gives changes our desires, although we still battle with stepping in the right direction.
God cares about the details of our lives. He cares about what steps we take and the direction they will lead us. He is not a distant deity who created us and then left us to figure out life on our own. Even with the best intentions, we’ll stumble.
Trials will confuse us, and temptations will tempt us, but God will hold our hand and gently lead us through each one. And we’ll come out victorious if we keep holding His hand. Like the child learning to walk who wants to hold an adult’s hand, God wants us to grasp His hand tightly through all of our life’s experiences.
Monitor your steps. Step in God’s direction, and let Him accomplish His plan for your life.
Martin Wiles lives in Greenwood, SC, and is the founder of Love Lines from God. He is a freelance editor, English teacher, pastor, and author. He serves as Managing Editor for both Christian Devotions and Vinewords.net and is an instructor for the Christian PEN (professional editor’s network). Wiles is a multi-published author. His most recent book, Hurt, Hope and Healing: 52 Devotions That Will Lead to Spiritual Health, is available on Amazon. He and his wife are parents of two and grandparents of seven. He can be contacted at [email protected].
Latest posts by Martin Wiles (see all)
- Devotions from Psalm Series: Stepping in the Right Direction - March 30, 2026
- Devotions from Psalms Series: Reckless Giving - March 12, 2026
- Devotions from Psalms Series: Unfading Inheritance - February 5, 2026
