Long Obedience in the Same Direction

The Israelites are on the banks of the Jordan River—the same spot where their parents stood 40 years earlier. But this time, they're looking forward in faith. Two million people, plus animals, all organized and ready. The priests lead with the Ark of the Covenant. The river is at flood stage, dangerous, muddy, and impossible to see through. And the people don't know how to swim.It's a moment that requires courage. A step of faith into the unknown.But in this installment of our "Joshua" devotional series, Pastor Mike Woodruff shifts our focus. Yes, there are big, bold moments that define our spiritual lives—inflection points that change our trajectory. But more often than not, it's not the big events that matter most. It's the small steps. The daily faithfulness. The ongoing trust. The perseverance that is steady.As Eugene Peterson put it, what we need is a long obedience in the same direction.Pastor Mike turns to Hebrews 2:1: "We must pay careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away." The operative word is drift. Not rebellion. Not defiance. We lose our focus through inattention and distraction. It's a slow fade. That's what holds us back—not a lack of courage, but a lack of clarity and a loss of focus.So here's the question: What's holding you back from deeper growth in Christ? Is it a lack of courage? Or is it a lack of clarity? Most of us don't get stuck because we're afraid of the big leap. We get stuck because we neglect the things that matter. We drift.Don't let distraction rob you of the next step. Keep the main thing the main thing. Long obedience. Same direction. One small step at a time.