Walking in God's Calling: 5 Biblical Truths That Will Help You Move Forward
Stop Hesitating and Start Walking in God's Calling
Do you feel God asking you to do something, but you just can’t seem to take the next step?
Maybe He's nudging you to start a Bible study, mentor a younger woman, write the book you've been talking about for years, or have a difficult conversation you've been avoiding. Perhaps He's calling you to step into a new opportunity at work or begin serving in a way that feels completely outside your comfort zone. Deep down, you know He's inviting you into something more, but every time you think about moving forward, you hesitate.
If that's you, I have something I want you to consider.
What if someone is waiting on the other side of your obedience?
That thought has stayed with me lately because I believe it's true. God rarely calls us to obedience that only affects us. More often than not, our willingness to trust Him becomes someone else's blessing. Your courage may inspire another person to take their next step. Your story may give someone hope. Your obedience may be exactly what God uses to point another person toward Jesus.
When we only think about what our decision means for us, it's easy to stay stuck. But when we remember that God wants to work through our lives to encourage, strengthen, and influence others, it changes our perspective. Suddenly, saying "yes" becomes about much more than our own comfort.
The good news is that if you've been feeling hesitant, you're in good company. Scripture is filled with ordinary people who wrestled with fear before they finally trusted God enough to move forward. The encouraging part isn't that they struggled. It's that God still used them.
1. Fear Often Disguises Itself as Waiting
One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that fear doesn't always look like fear. Sometimes it disguises itself as wisdom.
We tell ourselves we're waiting for more clarity. We decide we'll move forward once life settles down or after we've had a little more experience. We convince ourselves that we simply need more confidence before we take the leap.
Sometimes those things are true. There are certainly seasons when waiting is the wise and godly thing to do. But there are also moments when we've already heard what God is asking us to do. We're simply hoping He'll change His mind—or ask someone else.
Think about Moses. When God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses immediately started explaining why he wasn't the right person. He wasn't a good speaker. Surely God could find someone more qualified. Gideon questioned whether God had chosen the right man. Jeremiah believed he was too young. Jonah didn't just hesitate—he ran in the opposite direction.
Their stories remind us that God has never been looking for people who feel completely prepared. He's always been looking for people who are willing to trust Him.
I've noticed that fear has a way of sounding spiritual. It whispers, "Just wait a little longer." But if God has already made the next step clear, continuing to wait may simply be fear wearing a different outfit.
2. Obedience Comes Before Confidence
I think one of the greatest misconceptions we have as Christians is believing confidence comes first.
We imagine that one day we'll wake up feeling completely ready. We'll have all the answers, all the courage, and all the confidence we need. Then we'll finally do what God has been asking us to do.
But that's rarely how God works.
Confidence almost always grows on the other side of obedience.
When you learned to drive a car, you weren't confident the first time you sat behind the wheel. When you started your career, you probably didn't feel like an expert on your first day. Every new skill you've ever developed became more comfortable because you kept showing up and practicing.
Our walk with God is no different.
Every act of obedience teaches us something about His faithfulness. We take one step, and He meets us there. Then we take another step, and we discover He was faithful again. Before long, we realize our confidence isn't really in ourselves anymore. It's in the God who has faithfully walked with us every step of the way.
Let’s remember Philippians 4:13: " For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.." Paul wasn't saying he was capable because he was naturally confident. His confidence rested in Christ's strength, not his own.
If you're waiting until you feel completely ready, you may be waiting a very long time.
Instead, ask yourself this question: What is the next thing I already know God is asking me to do?
You don't have to know the next ten steps. You only need enough faith to take the next one.
3. Your Obedience Will Increase Your Influence
One of the messages I come back to over and over again is this: leadership is influence. We often think of leaders as the people with impressive titles or large platforms, but that's not how God defines leadership.
If you know Jesus, you have influence.
Whether you're raising children, leading a team at work, teaching a Bible Study group, serving in your community, or simply interacting with your neighbors, your life is influencing someone. The question isn't whether you're influencing people. The question is how you're influencing them.
Sometimes we think we need to have everything figured out before God can use us. We want our lives to be polished, our faith to be stronger, and our answers to be clearer. But people aren't looking for someone who's perfect. They're looking for someone who genuinely trusts God.
I've discovered that some of the greatest opportunities to influence others come during the seasons when we're simply choosing to be faithful. When people watch you trust God through uncertainty, continue serving when life is difficult, or take a step of faith when the outcome isn't guaranteed, they see something different. They see a life anchored in Christ.
You may never know how many people are encouraged because you chose obedience over fear. The conversation you're avoiding, the ministry you've been dreaming about, the business you've been considering, or the story you've been reluctant to share may become the very thing God uses to encourage someone else.
Never underestimate what God can do through one simple act of obedience.
4. Stop Looking Inward and Start Looking Upward
When we're hesitant, it's usually because we're looking in the wrong direction.
We begin focusing on everything we think we lack. We replay our mistakes, compare ourselves to others, and wonder whether we're qualified. We worry about what people will think if we fail or whether we'll disappoint someone if things don't go as planned.
I've been there more times than I can count.
But Scripture continually redirects our attention. Instead of looking inward, we're called to fix our eyes on Jesus, to put Him first in our life. Matthew 6:33 tells us, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. That's one reason spending time in God's Word every day is so important. It shifts our perspective. Instead of dwelling on our weaknesses, we're reminded of His strength. Instead of rehearsing our fears, we're reminded of His promises. Instead of focusing on what we lack, we remember He will provide what we need.
I love the story of Peter walking on the water because it's such a picture of our own lives. As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he did something impossible. The moment he focused on the wind and the waves, fear took over.
How often do we do the same thing?
We start looking at our circumstances instead of our Savior. We become consumed with what we can't do instead of remembering what God can do. Before long, fear feels bigger than faith.
Friend, if you've been staring at your limitations, may I gently encourage you to lift your eyes? God has never been limited by the things that limit us. The One who called you is also the One who promises to walk with you.
5. Take the Next Step
Years ago, I knew God was calling me to write a book. I was excited about it, but I was also intimidated. Who was I to write a book about growing in a relationship with Jesus? There were so many people who knew more than I did. Surely someone else could do it better.
I remember sitting across the table from a friend, sharing all my doubts. After listening for a while, she smiled and said something that has stayed with me ever since.
"Pam, just take one step."
Not ten.
Not the whole journey.
Just one step.
Those words changed the way I think about following God because that's exactly how He usually leads us. We want Him to hand us the blueprint for the next five years, but instead He gives us today's assignment. He asks us to trust Him with one step, then another, and then another.
Psalm 119:105 says, " Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path." I've always loved that picture because a lantern doesn't illuminate the entire road. It gives just enough light for the next few steps.
That's how faith works.
God rarely shows us the whole staircase. If He did, it wouldn't require much trust. Instead, He faithfully reveals today's next step and invites us to walk with Him.
When I look back over my life, I can see that almost everything God has done began with one small act of obedience. One conversation. One invitation. One class. One coaching client. One podcast episode. One blog post.
None of those things felt extraordinary at the time, but God has a way of multiplying ordinary acts of faithfulness.
Someone Is Waiting on Your Obedience
As I close, I want to leave you with the same thought we started with.
Someone is waiting on the other side of your obedience.
Maybe they're waiting for your encouragement. Maybe they're waiting for the Bible study you'll someday lead or the book you'll finally write. Maybe they're waiting for you to tell your story, so they realize they're not alone.
Your obedience isn't just about your future. It's about the people God wants to reach through your life.
So don't wait until you feel fearless, or have every answer or until your life is perfect.
Ask God to show you the next step, and then trust Him enough to take it.
Little by little, one act of obedience at a time, you'll discover that God has been faithfully leading you all along. And as you walk in His calling, you'll influence others to do the same, because that's what Christian leadership really is.
It's using your life to point people to Jesus.
For even more encouagement - check out this podcast episode - Stop Hesitating and Start Walking in God’s Calling.
Let’s do it.
p.s. Ready to Take Your Next Step?
If you're ready to move forward with greater clarity and confidence, I'd love to help.
One of the most practical resources I've created is my free LEAD Framework. It's a simple biblical guide that will help you make decisions, navigate difficult situations, and confidently take your next step with Christ-centered influence.
You can download it free at pampegram.com/leadframework.
And if this article encouraged you, I'd love for you to share it with a friend. You never know who might be waiting for the encouragement they need to say "yes" to what God is calling them to do.
Note from Pam:
Hi friend,
If today's post encouraged you, I'd love to help you take your next step.
I'm Pam Pegram, a Leadership and Personal Growth Coach, and I'm passionate about helping Christian women gain clarity, build confidence, and lead with Christ-centered influence. I believe every believer is called to lead because leadership is influence. It's not about having a title or a platform—it's about faithfully influencing every life God places in your path.
If you're wondering what your next step is, I've created a free resource just for you. (well, actually a few)
Download the FREE LEAD Framework and discover four biblical shifts that will help you move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose.
👉 Get your free LEAD Framework here
If you'd like more encouragement each week, be sure to listen to the Confident Christian Influence Podcast, where we explore practical, biblical ways to grow in your faith and influence others for Christ.
I'm so thankful you're here. 😊