What If You Only Need the Next Step?

A few days ago, a package arrived at our house. My wife normally handles the Amazon orders, so I had no idea what was inside.

I didn’t think much more of it until a few random squares showed up on a charger on our kitchen island. Even then, I didn’t ask many questions.

One evening, I heard her on the stairs, counting steps. I could not figure out what she was doing. Then I heard a squeal of excitement. Whatever she was working on had clearly turned out well.

She called me over, beaming.

Along our stairwell were several of those squares that had been charging on our kitchen island. They were motion sensor lights. As she walked up and down the stairs, they lit up one by one, illuminating the path.

She smiled and said, “Now I will be able to see when I come down the stairs early in the morning.”

A little while later, she added two squares to the base of our master bathroom cabinets, which apparently had started the whole idea in the first place.

In retrospect, I should have put all this together because she had already installed motion sensor lights on the bottom of our upper kitchen cabinets.

Her simple reason, being able to see clearly in the dark, reminded me of Psalm 119:105:

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

This verse sits in a psalm filled with reverence for God’s Word. It is often quoted, but it is easy to miss its depth.

The world is dark because of sin. Nothing is untouched. People, systems, and even creation itself feel its effects. Sin clouds our judgment and distorts what is true.

So how do we navigate a dark, sinful world? With light of course!

But where does that light come from?

From Jesus.

Before we reduce “Your word” to only the Bible or commands, let us remember John 1:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. ... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Jesus is the Word. And He is the Light of the world.

He does not just teach truth. He embodies it. He fulfills it. He reveals it fully.

Philippians tells us that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that He is Lord. His name stands above every other name.

No matter how you slice it, Jesus is the Word who lights our path.

Some people try to navigate the darkness on their own. Others ignore the light simply by never turning it on.

That is what struck me about those motion sensor lights. They respond to movement. As you step forward, the light turns on.

In a similar way, Jesus does not always illuminate the entire path at once. He gives enough light for the next step. Then the next.

He invites trust, not just understanding.

So here is the question. Are you standing still, waiting to see everything first, or are you willing to take the next step?

Step toward Him. Open His Word. Follow His lead today, not someday.

Take a step with Jesus and watch how He lights your way.

Anyway, I was just thinking...