In my 20s and 30s I had a successful career as a software engineer. I took on more and more responsibility in my job until I became overwhelmed, overworked, and overwrought. I was on the precipice of a breakdown, or worse, when I started listening for God’s voice.

I opened the door to Him just enough for Him to whisper to me, which He did. He said, “Quit.”

That’s it. No plan about what to do after that. No information about how I would pay my rent or get medical insurance. He didn’t lay out anything about my future other than His plan that I leave my job.

At first, I ignored Him. Then I started asking for a different command. I asked Him for help that didn’t involve throwing away my livelihood. But every time I read the Bible, I could hear God telling me to trust Him. And to quit.

Finally, one day, I took an indefinite leave of absence. (I still couldn’t bring myself to flat-out quit.) As soon as I walked out the door, I knew I wasn’t going back. I felt so free and full of promise, purpose, and joy. It surprised me. And I thanked God for His wise command. And I finally quit.

I spent some time relearning who I was and what I used to do with free time. I traveled some, spent time rejuvenating friendships, and visiting family.

Then came a time when I needed rent money. So, I asked God to give me my next step. I understood it would only be my next step, not the whole plan, and I was OK with that. That’s the way God works.

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭105‬, ‭NLT)‬‬

You’ll notice it doesn’t say God’s word is the road map to my life. He doesn’t provide an aerial view of the whole path with all its twists and turns. I don’t get the address of my destination let alone turn-by-turn instructions laid out before me. God asks for me to trust Him. Each day He gives me enough light to clearly see the footing for my next step.

And that’s more than enough.

After I quit my job, I was expecting God would lead me to a new job — maybe one with less stress, one I wouldn’t be consumed by.

Instead, the next step at that time in my life was a fantastic house-sitting gig that removed my need for rent money. For more than a year. During that year I ended up going on a mission trip to the Philippines where I volunteered to program a library database for a college to help them get accreditation.

Those were the first in many small steps that have led me closer to Him. Steps that felt crazy but proved to be exactly the right path for peace, joy, adventure, purpose, and love. He has taught me to trust Him with tomorrow, while I work on being obedient today.

Dear God, thank you for your lessons in trust. Thank you for always being faithful when I follow you, one step at a time. Forgive me when I become impatient and want to know more, or when I am afraid of the future because I have tried to see too far ahead. Your path is best, and you show me exactly what I need to see of it for today.