In my last article Step into Your Calling, I outlined different types of steps we take on our life journey: First Steps, Baby Steps, Bigger Steps, Giant Steps, and Impossible Steps. If you reflect on any significant accomplishment in your life, you’ll likely recognize that you moved through these steps. Success requires consistent forward motion, and the bigger the success, the more of these steps you’ve probably taken. Always remember, a meaningful life is built by taking one step after another in faith.
First Steps – The Leap of Faith
First steps are essential—they set the entire journey in motion. Sadly, many people never take that initial leap, which is often the hardest part. Taking the first step requires faith, as it’s typically into unknown territory. But when God calls, you have to jump! Yes, stepping into the unknown is hard, but we don’t do it alone. God is right there, guiding us, and as they say, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Baby Steps – Small but Mighty Progress
Once you’ve taken that brave first step, you’re ready to move into baby steps. Baby steps might feel small, but they’re powerful, and over time, they create a lifestyle of steady progress. Daily, consistent steps toward your calling can be more effective than occasional giant leaps. Like the famous “penny-doubling” analogy, where a penny doubled every day grows exponentially, daily steps can compound into profound change. Let these baby steps become habits, and before long, you’ll see growth that only consistency can bring.
Bigger Steps – Gaining Momentum
As you continue with those baby steps, they begin to add up, and suddenly, you find yourself able to take bigger steps. This is the phase where things start to happen. People begin to take notice, and you’ll hear mixed reactions—some will encourage you, while others might question your direction. But stay focused, because these bigger steps are markers of progress.
Be cautious, though, because with comfort comes the temptation to settle. At this stage, many feel they’ve arrived and might get sidetracked by success or comfort. But we have to resist complacency if we’re to stay on God’s path. Remind yourself often: growth is ongoing, and your true calling is always ahead.
Giant Steps – Taking Risks for God
Once you move beyond comfort and keep growing, you start taking giant steps. This is where others may say you’re “lucky,” but only you and God know the sacrifices, doubts, and tears behind the scenes. Giant steps require faith and boldness, pushing you beyond what you thought was possible. At this point, your vision has expanded. Where you once dreamed of impacting hundreds, you now see a future reaching thousands or even millions. Giant steps require the biggest leaps of faith, but they also bring the biggest rewards.
Impossible Steps – Transforming the World
Very few reach the level of taking impossible steps—steps that don’t just change lives but change generations. These are the Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Mother Teresa-level steps that leave legacies. But the ultimate example is Jesus Christ. In just 33 years, and especially in His final three years of ministry, He transformed the world. His journey included every step of faith and culminated in the impossible, paying the price for our sins on the cross. Jesus shows us that it’s not just about taking steps but walking in absolute surrender to God’s purpose.
Where to Begin?
Before anything else, you have to take that first step with God. If you haven’t yet, this could mean surrendering your life to Christ or rededicating yourself if you’ve drifted away. Ask God to come into your heart, admit that you need Him, and let Him guide each step of your life.
From there, remain fully surrendered to His will, and when you look back one day, you’ll be able to say, “What an incredible journey.” Through the heartaches and triumphs, you’ll see the fruit of each faithful step taken toward your calling.
Living a God-Inspired Life,
Chris Benton