Step In Step Out
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“The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and for evermore.” Psalm 121:8
I watched two little boys – my nephews – go into the house and soon they were outside playing. Then inside for a snack. Then outside into the tent. Then inside on their device. Then outside to make tie dyed T-shirts. Then inside. They were in and out of the house throughout the afternoon. In and out of activities. In and out of conversations. In and out.
There are numerous situations in life where you step in and step out. You step into your work environment and responsibilities, and you step out at the end of the work time. You step into an organization, a group, an event. You participate and hopefully enjoy the experience. Then you step out.
During grief and change, you may step out of life and the routine and expectations of others for a period of time. Life is different, and you need time to adjust to the different and re-evaluate who you are now and your new purpose and focus for life. Sometimes it becomes difficult to find your place to step back into life. Life has changed. You have changed, but not everyone else has changed.
Sometimes as you adjust to changes, you need to learn a new way of interacting in relationships, living life, and experiencing the life God has for you. First, interacting in relationships. It is learning when to step in and when to step out. Let me explain. I have learned through experience, mistakes, and maturity, it is not my responsibility to fix everyone and every situation nor was I born into this world to please everyone. When I truly seek God’s purpose, will, and guidance, I can step into a situation or into a person’s life, be with them in the moment and even enjoy the time together. But then I can also step out. I listen to God’s Spirit to guide me in what I am to do and share, but it is not my responsibility to make everything better, good, or right in their lives. Stepping out is setting healthy boundaries and releasing the situation to God.
How do you step into life – this different life? You do it slowly and in moments. For instance, you step into an event. It could be a family gathering, a Bible Study, a social gathering, or a concert. You remind yourself that you are going to focus on just this one event. You go, and be present in the moment as much as possible, and when you have experienced it, you step out. You give yourself permission to step out and renew yourself in the quiet moments alone. You give yourself grace and also recognition that you accomplished the event.
When you break life down into events, adventures, and moments, you can step into them. Enjoy the moment and then step out to rest and renew yourself. It does not need to raise your anxiety because you are separating each event and not putting them all together as something that is continuous. You are just focused on one moment and event at a time. You take steps in and then permission to step out.
How do you step into the life God has for you? Again, for most people it is one step at a time. You step into recognizing God is with you all the time. God loves you. You are God’s child. God gives you His love and grace one moment at a time. You step out of the negative view, the guilt, and shame of the past. You step out of the past. It is your foundation of who you are but you cannot step backward. Stepping into life is always forward.
To step out is also stepping out of the control of others and the world. It is stepping into dependency on God and the freedom God gives to you. The freedom of living fully in the moment. The freedom from worry and anxiety of the future because you are focused on living fully now. Your eyes are on the present moment. When you take a step, you need to pay attention to what is in front of you.
God is with you in each step you take. Take the hand of Jesus when you take a step in and when you take a step out. He is present.
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