This past year has been one of the most eye-opening journeys of my life. There have been moments when I felt the Lord saying, “Wait, be still, trust Me,” and there have been other moments where He nudged me to take steps that felt scary and uncertain. Learning to tell the difference between the two has been both humbling and faith-building.

Waiting has never been easy for me. I like to see progress. I like to know that things are moving forward. But in several areas of my life this year, the Lord asked me to sit still while He worked behind the scenes. At the time, it felt frustrating. I wondered if I was doing something wrong or if I had missed His voice. Now, looking back, I see how those pauses were actually His protection and preparation. He was aligning things I couldn’t see, shaping me for what was ahead.

At the same time, there were seasons when God made it clear that waiting was no longer the answer, faithful action was. Stepping into new roles, saying yes to ministry opportunities, reimagining parts of my life and work, these weren’t giant leaps all at once. They were smaller steps of obedience. And yet, each step created new momentum.

I came across an illustration of two ladders recently. One ladder had steps so far apart that the person at the bottom couldn’t even reach the first step. The other had small, steady steps, and the person on it was already climbing higher. The caption said: “The importance of smaller steps.” That image struck me deeply because it perfectly describes what God has been teaching me. He doesn’t expect me to reach the mountaintop in one leap. He asks for faith in the next step, however small it seems.

I’ll be honest, some of what I called “waiting” this year was actually hesitation. Fear disguised as patience. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of stepping into places I didn’t feel ready for. But the Lord has been gentle with me, reminding me that waiting is rooted in trust, while hesitation is rooted in fear. One draws me closer to Him, the other keeps me stuck.

Here’s where I’ve landed:

• If God speaks, my job is to obey, even if it’s only one small step.
• If God says wait, my job is to rest and trust that His timing is better than mine.
• And when I’m unsure, my job is to seek His face until the answer becomes clear.

Faith is not about rushing to the top. It’s about walking with God step by step. The beauty is that both waiting and moving are holy acts of faith, one declares, “I trust Your timing,” and the other declares, “I trust Your leading.”

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and He delighteth in his way.” — Psalm 37:23

Whatever season you find yourself in, remember that you can ONLY hear the Lord’s voice and direction by having regular communication with Him! Open your Bible, ask Holy Spirit to speak to your heart, and open your mouth and talk to the Lord. He is waiting for you! Watch what He does when you obey His direction!

Check these scriptures out!

Psalm 27:14

James 2:26

James 1:22

Jeremiah 33:3