Baby Steps...

     The past couple days, I have been reflecting on this past year, as my daughter will be turning 1 in March. Most days, it blows my mind that a year has gone by looking at this beautiful little girl and how much she has grown. How did a little baby that use to be so small that my husband was worried that he would break her to now holding her in a football hold with no problem. She is growing into her personality and it has been beautiful to watch.
    Each day of her life, she has made baby steps -- to eating big girl foods, to crawling, to standing, to babbling, to clapping -- baby steps. I feel like in any part of life, in any season, in any change, we are still continuing to take baby steps. Maybe, you took baby steps in getting healthy by going to the gym or eating healthy food. Maybe, you took baby steps financially by putting a part of your paycheck into savings or paying off debt that accrued. Maybe, your baby steps were of a spiritual nature by starting to read your bible everyday or going to church for the first time in a while. Whatever your baby step in life may be -- they are all important and foundational.
      Last month, I wrote about how we are focusing on building this year with our 2020 vision -- but in order to build and keep building there will be a lot of baby steps along the way (and maybe a large leep or two); and that is okay. We have a God that wants for us to follow him -- even if it takes us a few baby steps to get us to running full speed after him. How are you taking baby steps to grow closer to him? My daughter is not walking yet but soon enough she will get there.
    I have heard stories from people who say that once they start walking -- get ready, your world will change forever. How fitting! Once we start taking those small baby steps and learn to walk with the Lord -- our world is changed forever. After the baby steps, we can find ourselves on full run with God -- not saying that we won’t stumble a few times here and there; which we will. However, that is where our loving God picks us up, dusts us off, and walks alongside us. Scripture often paints a beautiful picture of this in which David talks about in the Psalms, “When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me,” Psalm 94:18.
     We have a God that sees our baby steps. He encourages us. He supports us. He is with us! We shall not fear taking a step forward for He is our guide. So, what steps are you taking? Where is God leading you to grow? Is it financially, spiritually, physically, emotionally? As a husband, wife, daughter, son, sister, brother? How can you be intentional with planning those baby steps? Maybe, that is the first step of it all -- planning the step you will take. I challenge you to take a look and plan the next step, wobbly and all, and I pray that God continues to guide you in each step you take. 

In Christ,

​Jessica Tibben