Part 2 – Who are you following?
Have you ever wished God would simply hand you a map?
Show me where we’re going, Lord. Tell me what’s around the next corner. Let me know how this story turns out—and then I’ll follow.
I know I’ve felt that way.
But I’m learning that God doesn’t always give us a map.
He gives us something better.
He gives us Himself.
Jesus doesn’t stand at the beginning of the road and point us toward the destination. He walks with us and says, “Follow Me.”
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said: ‘Here am I. Send me.’”
— Isaiah 6:8
Last week, we talked about seeking God. Seeking is where the journey begins. We seek Him in His Word, in prayer, and in the quiet places of our hearts. But seeking is never meant to be the destination. Seeking is meant to lead us somewhere.
It leads us to a question.
Will you follow?
If I’m honest, I think many of us love the idea of following Jesus more than we love the reality of it. Following sounds exciting when we imagine grand adventures of faith and dramatic moments of obedience. But most of the time, following Jesus looks much simpler—and much harder—than we expect.
Following is found in the ordinary.
It’s saying yes when no one else notices. It’s trusting God when the next step isn’t clear. It’s remaining faithful in the season you’re in instead of longing for someone else’s calling or assignment.
Some of us are waiting for God to reveal His five-year plan when He’s simply asking us to take one faithful step today.
We often ask God questions like:
- What’s my purpose?
- What am I supposed to do next?
- Am I missing God’s will for my life?
Perhaps a better question is this:
Am I willing to follow Him wherever He leads?
Before Isaiah ever said, “Send me,” he first encountered the holiness and presence of God. His willingness to go flowed from his relationship with God. The same is true for us. Following Jesus isn’t about accomplishing great things for God—it’s about walking closely enough with Him that we recognize His voice and willingly respond.
Sometimes following means stepping forward into something new.
Sometimes it means staying right where you are and being faithful.
Sometimes it means letting go of something you’ve held tightly for years.
Sometimes it means quietly serving without recognition.
Sometimes it means beginning again at sixty.
I’ve learned that obedience doesn’t always feel exciting. There have been seasons in my own life when following Jesus meant walking through cancer treatments, trusting Him when I couldn’t see what was ahead, and choosing joy when circumstances gave me every reason not to. Following isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about trusting the One who does.
Following Jesus is less about arriving somewhere and more about becoming someone.
And here’s something I hope encourages you today: God isn’t asking you to become someone else. He’s inviting you to faithfully become who He created you to be.
The question is, are we close enough to Jesus to follow where He leads?
Friend, I don’t know where God is leading you next. Some days, I’m still asking Him the same question about my own journey.
But maybe neither of us needs to know the whole road ahead.
Maybe today we simply need to look toward Jesus and ask:
Where are You leading me today?
And when He shows us the next step, may we have the faith to take it.
One faithful step at a time.
Come on, friend. Let’s follow Him together.
Reflection Questions
- Who or what has been influencing the direction of my life lately?
- Where is Jesus inviting me to trust Him instead of my own understanding?
- What is one faithful step I can take this week that reflects my desire to follow Him?
Prayer
Father, thank You for inviting me to walk with You. Forgive me for the times I’ve been more concerned about finding my purpose than faithfully following Your voice. Give me the courage to say yes to whatever You ask of me. Help me trust that Your plans are good and that obedience is always worth it. Today, I choose to follow You one faithful step at a time. Amen.
Scripture for Meditation
“My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me.”
— John 10:27
Looking Ahead
Next week, we’ll explore what it means to abide in Christ. Seeking begins the journey. Following moves our feet. But abiding teaches us that our greatest joy is not found in what we do for God—it’s found in remaining close to Him.
With love and joy,
Laura
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