September: Courage
Issue 011 — Courage Is Taking the Next Step
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” — Isaiah 43:2
Dear Believer,
Sometimes we imagine courage as something dramatic.
A big decision.
A fearless moment.
A leap into the unknown without looking back.
But most courage doesn't look like that.
Sometimes courage is simply taking the next step when you still don't know what comes after it.
There are seasons when we wish God would show us the entire road ahead.
We want to know how things will turn out. We want reassurance that we're making the right decision. We want the uncertainty removed before we're asked to move.
But faith rarely gives us the whole map.
It gives us enough light for the next step.
The Waters Were Still There
In Isaiah 43, God doesn't tell His people that they will never face deep waters.
He says:
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.”
There's something beautiful about that promise.
God doesn't always promise to remove the difficult path.
Sometimes He promises something even more important:
His presence while we walk through it.
Think about how often this happens throughout Scripture.
Abraham left without knowing exactly where God was taking him.
Moses stood before the Red Sea before he knew how a path would appear.
Peter stepped out of the boat while the waves were still moving beneath him.
Their courage didn't come from knowing exactly what would happen next.
It came from trusting the One who was already there.
Maybe You Don't Need the Whole Answer
Perhaps there's something in your own life that feels uncertain right now.
A decision you're afraid to make.
A conversation you've been avoiding.
A new beginning that feels bigger than you expected.
Or simply a season where you can't see very far ahead.
You may be waiting to feel completely confident before moving forward.
But courage doesn't always arrive as confidence.
Sometimes courage sounds much quieter:
“I don't know what happens next. But I know I don't walk there alone.”
And then you take one step.
Not ten.
Not the entire journey.
Just one.
A Question for This Week
Instead of asking:
“How is all of this going to work out?”
Try asking:
“What is the next faithful step I can take today?”
Maybe it's sending the message.
Making the appointment.
Starting something you've postponed.
Letting go of something you've been holding too tightly.
Or simply praying and choosing not to make today's decisions based entirely on tomorrow's fears.
You don't have to see the whole road to keep walking.
You only need enough courage for the step in front of you.
And when that step leads through uncertain waters, remember the promise:
“I will be with you.”
Until next Sunday, may you have the courage to take the next step—even before you know where the one after it will lead.
With love,
Priscila & Gui
Guided by Cross
If this letter encouraged you today, consider sharing it with someone who might need these words too.
The Sunday Letter · Issue No. 011