“Keep taking one step at a time, and at the proper time you’ll discover a cumulative effect. . . . Eventually the race we run is made up of tens of thousands of individual steps. Each step,in the moment, may seem insignificant, but the cumulative effect of all the steps ultimately determines what race we ran.”- Kyle Idleman
“Let us not weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”- Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
In Chapter 9 (“One Step at a Time”) of Don’t Give Up, Kyle Idleman stresses the need to focus on one step at a time. For example, Pastor Idleman calculates, a marathon consists of 55,374 steps. However, consider what Kyle’s marathon runner friend Wesley tells himself when he struggles to keep going: One step at a time. Just take the next step.
Yet, Pastor Idleman notes, there’s a real reason many people give up on running the race. That reason? – we underestimate the importance of taking one step at a time. Therefore, we must focus on intentionally taking the next step. And the next step after that.
But, as Kyle explains, we often believe that a big challenge requires a big solution:
“When what we’re up against what feels like a big challenge, there’s a tendency to think we need a big solution. We’re looking for one big decision that can help us get out of a big dilemma. In reality, the key to persevering is to focus on one step at a time.”
In conclusion, a cumulative effect happens little by little over time. Not all at once. As you faithfully take one step at a time, eventually you’ll reap a harvest.
Today’s question: When have you experienced the cumulative effect of many little steps? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The intention-action gap = the procrastination zone”