Anyone who watches football has seen this play a hundred times: the quarterback falls back, throws the perfect pass, and there is no one there to catch the ball. We watch the ball hit the turf and roll away with no player in the vicinity. Anyone who understands football knows that when the quarterback throws the football—it’s NOT to a person—but to where the person is supposed to BE. When we see a pass fail, it’s because the receiver didn’t follow the steps to go to where he was supposed to be to get the ball and make a successful play.

Elijah lived in the time of King Ahab, who was married to Jezebel. They not only rebuilt Jericho, which God had forever cursed, but they also ushered in a massive Baal-worship movement. As punishment for worshipping Baal, God tells Elijah to proclaim a drought. After this proclamation, God then directs Elijah to hide in different places. First, we see him hide in Kerith Ravine, where ravens would take care of him, and later flee to Zarephath, where a widow would take care of him. Elijah knew that God was trying to protect him from the wrath of Jezebel, but I’m sure he thought, “How am I going to survive on the run? In a drought?” We see in Elijah’s story that God only gives him a little information, piece by piece. Elijah has to trust God to walk it, step by step, not knowing the plan.

Our lives are like this. God has a plan and tells us where to be. God had already pre-positioned provision for Elijah, and it was there and available to him when he arrived. Just like the football player, the receiver needs to follow the plan to go where he is supposed to go, and when he gets there, the football will be there.

Whether it is Elijah’s footsteps or a football analogy, the lesson to learn is that we must follow God’s plan for our steps, trusting that when we arrive, He has what we need waiting there for us. However, if we go our own way, follow our own plan, let the enemy drive us off course, or don’t do what God has asked of us because we can’t see beyond the first step, we will miss what He has waiting for us, 100% of the time.

Trust God in every single step. If we do what He asks by faith, what we need is waiting when we arrive. He sees the beginning from the end in all things, and that includes your Spiritual Journey.