Taking the Leap of Faith Like Abraham

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting God When You Can't See the Path Ahead

Abraham was called to leave everything familiar and step into the unknown, trusting God without knowing the destination. This is the essence of faith: moving forward even when the outcome is uncertain, believing that God’s promise is enough to take the next step. Like Abraham, you may find yourself with one foot in comfort and one in uncertainty, but true trust means shifting your weight and relying fully on God’s guidance, even when the way is unclear. [02:00]

Hebrews 11:8 (ESV)
"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to step out in faith, even though you can’t see the whole path? What would it look like to take just the next step today?

Day 2: God’s Promises Stand Despite Impossible Circumstances

God promised Abraham that he would become a great nation and a blessing to all, even though Abraham and Sarah had no children and were advanced in age. Trusting God means believing in His promises even when circumstances seem to make them impossible, holding onto hope when logic says otherwise. When you face situations that seem insurmountable, remember that God’s faithfulness is not limited by human limitations. [07:14]

Genesis 12:1-4 (ESV)
"Now the Lord said to Abram, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.' So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran."

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel God’s promise seems impossible? How can you choose to trust His faithfulness today despite what you see?

Day 3: Building Altars—Remembering God’s Faithfulness

Abraham’s pattern was to build altars and worship God at every significant moment, marking God’s faithfulness along the journey. In times of uncertainty, establishing spiritual practices—like worship, gratitude, and prayer—anchors us in trust and reminds us of God’s presence and provision. Consider how you can create your own “altars” to remember and celebrate God’s work in your life. [14:02]

Genesis 12:7-8 (ESV)
"Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, 'To your offspring I will give this land.' So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord."

Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally remember and celebrate God’s faithfulness this week—perhaps through journaling, prayer, or a simple act of worship?

Day 4: Taking the First Step Without Seeing the Whole Staircase

Faith often requires action before clarity; you may not see the entire journey, but God calls you to take the first step and trust Him for the next. Like Indiana Jones stepping onto an invisible bridge, or Abraham leaving home, you are invited to move forward, believing that God will reveal the way as you go. Don’t wait for perfect certainty—let trust in God move you forward today. [12:31]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today in an area where you’ve been waiting for more clarity or certainty?

Day 5: God Is With You Every Step of the Way

You are never alone in your leap of faith—God’s presence goes with you, just as He promised to Abraham and to the disciples. Even when the future feels volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous, you can anchor yourself in the assurance that God is with you always, holding you securely as you step into the unknown. [15:25]

Matthew 28:20 (ESV)
"…And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to be reminded that God is with you? How can you rest in His presence and courage today as you move forward?

Sermon Summary

Life often places us in situations where we feel like we’re straddling two boats—one foot in what’s familiar and secure, the other in what’s uncertain and risky. Like Abraham, who at 75 was called by God to leave everything he knew and step into the unknown, we too are invited to take leaps of faith. Abraham’s story is not just about blind trust, but about moving forward even when the path isn’t clear, believing that God’s promises are true even when circumstances seem impossible. He left his home without knowing his destination, trusting God’s word that he would become a blessing to all nations, despite having no children and facing obstacles like the Canaanites already occupying the promised land.

This journey of faith is not a one-time event but a pattern: God calls, Abraham moves, Abraham worships, and he repeats this cycle. In our own volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) times, we are called to anchor ourselves in trust, even when the world feels unsteady. We don’t need to see the whole path ahead; we just need to trust the One who calls us forward.

Practical steps can help us anchor ourselves. Limiting our exposure to anxiety-inducing news, engaging in spiritual practices like meditation, worship, and service, and building “altars” of remembrance for God’s faithfulness all help us stay grounded. These practices are not just rituals but ways to remember and experience God’s presence with us.

Ultimately, we are not called to step out alone. God’s promise is to be with us every step of the way, just as He was with Abraham. The leap of faith is not into emptiness, but into the arms of a faithful God. Whatever leap you are facing—whether it’s a new direction, a difficult conversation, or simply trusting God with your future—know that God is already there, ready to catch you. The challenge is to gather the courage, shift your weight, and trust that God’s got you.

Key Takeaways

1. Faith means moving without full clarity True faith is not about having all the answers or seeing the entire path ahead. It’s about taking the next step, trusting that God will reveal the way as we go. This kind of trust is uncomfortable, but it’s where we encounter God’s faithfulness most deeply. [07:46]
2. Build spiritual altars of remembrance Abraham’s practice of building altars marked moments of God’s faithfulness. We, too, need regular practices—gratitude journals, worship, prayer—that help us remember and celebrate God’s presence in our journey. These “altars” anchor us when the future feels uncertain. [14:37]
3. Anchor yourself in God’s presence, not circumstances Our security doesn’t come from stable circumstances but from the assurance that God is with us. Even when the world is volatile and ambiguous, God’s presence is our true anchor. We are never called to leap alone; God goes with us into every unknown. [15:05]
4. Take the first step, even if afraid Courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to act despite it. Like Abraham, we are called to shift our weight, leave behind what’s sinking, and trust that God will provide a way forward—even if we can’t see it yet. [13:38]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:04] - The Two Rowboats Analogy
[01:27] - Abraham’s Leap of Faith
[02:00] - Setting Out Without Knowing
[02:42] - Our Own Leaps of Faith
[03:16] - Indiana Jones and the Leap
[05:34] - Abraham’s Established Life
[06:02] - God’s Call Without Details
[06:33] - Abraham’s Trust and God’s Promise
[07:14] - The Problem of No Heir
[08:15] - The Canaanite Complication
[08:37] - Abraham’s Pattern of Faith
[09:16] - Living in VUCA Times
[10:16] - Anchoring Ourselves Practically
[11:45] - Anchoring in Worship and Practice
[12:31] - Take the First Step
[14:02] - Build Altars Along the Way
[15:05] - God Goes With You
[15:55] - What Leap Is God Calling You To?
[16:27] - Trusting God With the Unknown
[16:57] - God’s Promise to Catch Us

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Genesis 12:1-4 (ESV) — > Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Hebrews 11:8-10 (ESV) — > By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

Matthew 28:20b (ESV) — > “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Observation Questions

What did God ask Abraham to do, and how much information did He give Abraham about the destination? (Genesis 12:1-4)
According to Hebrews 11, what was Abraham’s attitude as he set out on his journey? (Hebrews 11:8-10)
In the sermon, what were some of the obstacles Abraham faced after he obeyed God’s call? [08:15]
What pattern did Abraham establish in his journey whenever he encountered a new place or challenge? [08:37]

Interpretation Questions

Why might God have chosen not to give Abraham all the details about his journey before asking him to go? What does this reveal about the nature of faith? (Genesis 12:1-4; Hebrews 11:8-10)
The sermon describes Abraham’s journey as a cycle of moving, worshiping, and repeating. What does this pattern suggest about how faith is lived out over time? [08:58]
How does the presence of obstacles (like the Canaanites in the land) challenge or strengthen a person’s faith? [08:15]
The sermon mentions that God’s promise is to be with us every step of the way. How does this assurance affect the way someone might approach uncertainty or fear? (Matthew 28:20b; [15:05])

Application Questions

The sermon uses the image of having one foot in a sinking boat and one in a secure boat. Is there an area in your life right now where you feel like you’re straddling two boats? What would it look like to “shift your weight” and trust God fully in that area? [01:04]
Abraham took the first step without knowing the whole path. Is there a decision or step of faith you’ve been putting off because you can’t see the whole picture? What is one small step you could take this week? [13:38]
The sermon suggests building “altars” of remembrance—practices that help us remember God’s faithfulness. What is one practical way you could create a reminder of God’s past faithfulness in your life? (e.g., gratitude journal, prayer, worship) [14:37]
The message encourages limiting exposure to anxiety-inducing news and engaging in spiritual practices. Is there a specific habit (news, social media, etc.) that increases your anxiety? What boundary could you set this week to help anchor yourself in God’s presence? [11:03]
When facing something unknown or risky, what usually holds you back from taking a leap of faith? How could remembering God’s promise to be with you change your response? [15:05]
The sermon asks, “What leap is God calling you to make today?” Take a moment to reflect: Is there a conversation, decision, or change you sense God nudging you toward? What support or encouragement do you need from this group to take that step? [15:55]
Abraham’s faith was not a one-time event but a repeated pattern. How can you build regular rhythms into your life that help you trust God in both big and small decisions? [08:58]

Sermon Clips

God didn't give Abraham specific directions. God didn't give Abraham GPS coordinates. God just said, Leave it all and trust me. So we find Abraham in this passage with a foot in each boat. One that feels pretty secure with God and one that feels pretty insecure. This place that he has to leave in order to follow God's call. Leave it all and trust me. [00:05:58] (34 seconds) #FaithInAction

Abraham worshiped God. Putting one foot in front of the other, following God. And this was Abraham's pattern that we see play out in the scriptures ahead. God says, move, Abraham moves. God says, stop, Abraham stops. Then he builds altars. He worships. He trusts. Repeat that story. And this is a perfect model of faith for us in the 21st century, living in what I've been calling VUCA times. [00:08:42] (31 seconds) #NavigatingVUCA

We live in these precarious days when the world feels unmoored. And like Abraham, we're being called to step out in faith into this new world that feels strange and complex and weird. And like the ground beneath our feet, or maybe the boats underneath us are shifting and not steady. And many of us may feel like we're doing that, like we're straddling two boats between where we have been and what has felt comfortable and where we feel God calling us. And it requires us to take a leap of faith, to shift our weight, to step into where God is calling, and it's terrifying. [00:09:29] (41 seconds) #TrustTheCall

Social science shows us that those who practice spiritual meditation have lower levels of anxiety, lower levels of stress. And so adjusting our sales or directing our rudders would be taking up some spiritual practice. Meditation, worship attendance, like you're doing today, engaging in social service, volunteering. These things, this is like Abraham building an altar. This is how we worship. And through that worship, we find an anchor. [00:11:16] (34 seconds) #GroundedInFaith

Take the first step without being able to see the entire staircase. Martin Luther King Jr. famously once said, faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. And so maybe this is you straddling those two bolts out in the gulf. Maybe it looks like leaving some kind of toxic situation or pursuing a new direction in your career or in your life or repairing a broken relationship. Or here's one, taking a risk for justice in the world. [00:12:24] (42 seconds) #TrustBeyondSight

If you're waiting until you can see the entire path, I'm sorry. Trust doesn't work that way. I wish it did. Oh my God. I wish I did. It doesn't. Trust says, I'm simply going to take the next step and trust God for the one after that. Like Indiana Jones, you have to move before you can see that the bridge reveals itself. That's what it means to live by faith and to trust in God. [00:13:31] (31 seconds) #BuildAltarsDaily

``Remember that God goes with you. God is not calling you to step out without God's presence. God is with you every step of the way just like God was with Abraham every step of the way. So you're not making this leap alone. God is right there. You're not stepping into emptiness. You're stepping into the arms of God. [00:15:01] (25 seconds) #LeapGodIsCalling

So my friends, what leap is God calling you to make today? In what area of your life are you straddling two boats? Is it a difficult conversation you need to have? Is it following a calling that you've put off for far too long? Is it letting go of something that's toxic or not working in your life? Maybe it's as simple as trusting God with your finances or with your health or with your future or with your kids, your children or grandchildren. Simply trusting that God has got this because guess what? God's got this. [00:15:43] (43 seconds) #FaithOverFear

We don't need to have the big picture figured out. That is not who God has called us to be. God has simply called us to be faithful. And God's promise is this, when we step out in faith, there is a bridge there to catch us. The boat will hold us if we can simply gather the courage, shift our weight, and place our trust in God. [00:16:48] (28 seconds) #FaithBridgeTrust

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