As I held the kettlebell in one hand, the trainer told me to lift it over my head and take one step forward and one step backward. I took one step and went toppling into the trainer’s arms. His advice: “Don’t stare at the weight in your hand or at your feet. Instead gaze ahead at a spot on the wall and focus on that.” The steps went smoothly after that.  

Elijah had taken a few steps forward after a battle with the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. His victory proved who the real God was. But then he went one step backward because the evil queen put a bounty on his head. So Elijah packed his bags for a pity party and went into hiding. 

“The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. … There was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:11,12). 

God reminded Elijah that he needed to focus on the solution—God. Life will be a series of steps forward and back. As you step, focus on that gentle whisper of God who is with you every step of the way.