First Step (Initiation): The Courage to Begin
Sometimes, the
greatest journey of faith begins with one small step that no one else can see.
Biblical Foundation:
Ecclesiastes 11:4–6; Zechariah 4:10; Matthew 14:28–29
The
Parable of the Unopened Gate
Once, in a small
village nestled between green hills, there lived a young man named Eliab. He
had a dream of cultivating a neglected piece of land beyond the village so that
it might become a garden filled with fruit trees, flowering plants, and
nourishing crops.
The land belonged to
his family, but it had remained unused for many years. Weeds covered the soil,
thorny bushes blocked the narrow path, and a small wooden gate stood at the
entrance, weathered by rain and sunlight.
Every morning, Eliab
would stand before that gate and imagine what the land might become.
He pictured rows of
olive trees, vines climbing wooden supports, and baskets filled with ripe
fruit. He even imagined travellers resting beneath the shade of the trees and
thanking God for the garden's abundance.
Yet, whenever he
considered beginning the work, his enthusiasm gave way to hesitation.
What if the soil is
too poor? What if the rains fail? What if I spend my strength and receive
nothing in return?
He would examine the
land, calculate the expense, and think about the difficulties. Then he would
return home, promising himself that he would begin when the weather became more
favourable, when he had gathered better tools, or when he felt more confident.
Weeks passed, and
the land remained untouched.
One afternoon, an
elderly gardener from the neighbouring village came to visit. He found Eliab
standing near the gate, gazing at the overgrown land.
“You have been
looking at this ground for a long time,” the old man observed. “Tell me, what
do you see?”
“I see a garden,”
Eliab replied. “But I also see weeds, stones, uncertain weather, and years of
difficult labour.”
The gardener smiled
gently.
“Then you see both
the promise and the problem. But tell me, have you ever opened the gate?”
Eliab looked at the
old wooden gate.
“No,” he admitted.
“I have been waiting until I know that my efforts will succeed.”
The old man placed
his hand upon the gate and pushed it. With a long, creaking sound, it swung
open.
“Can you promise
that every seed you plant will grow?” he asked.
“No.”
“Can you command the
clouds to bring rain?”
“No.”
“Can you know today
how much fruit this land will produce five years from now?”
Eliab shook his
head.
“Then why,” the
gardener continued, “do you demand tomorrow's certainty before you offer
today's effort?”
Eliab remained
silent.
The old man picked
up a small hoe lying beside the path and handed it to him.
“Do not begin by
trying to create the whole garden. Begin by clearing one small patch of ground.
You do not need to know the entire story before you write its first sentence.”
That evening, Eliab
entered the land for the first time.
He cleared a little
ground, removed a few stones, and loosened the soil. The work was tiring, and
the garden did not appear overnight. But when he returned the following
morning, he found himself eager to continue.
Day after day, he
cleared another patch, planted a few seeds, and tended the young plants. Some
seeds failed to grow. Others survived the changing weather. There were
disappointments, unexpected difficulties, and moments when the work seemed
almost endless.
Nevertheless, the
unopened gate had become an open entrance, and the neglected land had become a
place of activity and hope.
Months later, small
green shoots appeared in the soil. In time, the garden began to take shape.
One evening, as
Eliab rested beneath the shade of a young tree, he remembered the questions
that had once kept him outside the gate.
He finally
understood that the garden had not begun when the first seed sprouted, nor when
the first rain fell, nor when the first fruit appeared.
The garden had begun
the moment he stepped through the gate and started working.
And so, what had
once existed only in his imagination began to take root in the earth.
The
Biblical Meaning of the First Step
The story of Eliab
illustrates a principle found throughout the Bible: beginnings often require
faith before visible results appear.
Ecclesiastes 11:4
presents a striking picture of the danger of excessive hesitation:
“He that observeth
the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.” —
Ecclesiastes 11:4 (KJV)
The farmer who
continually watches the wind and studies the clouds may become so concerned
about unfavourable conditions that he never sows his seed. He wants the
assurance of suitable weather before beginning, but the opportunity to plant
may pass while he waits.
This does not mean
that wisdom, preparation, or careful judgment is unnecessary. Rather, the verse
challenges the habit of allowing uncertainty to prevent every meaningful
beginning.
Life rarely provides
complete knowledge of what lies ahead. A person may have a worthy purpose,
adequate preparation, and a reasonable opportunity, yet still be unable to
predict the outcome. The question is whether uncertainty will become an excuse
for permanent inaction.
Eliab had spent
considerable time imagining his garden, but imagination alone could not prepare
the soil. The decisive change came when he moved from contemplating the
possibility to undertaking the work.
This is the
significance of initiation: the transition from intention to action.
Small
Beginnings and Great Purposes
The Bible repeatedly
reminds us not to despise small beginnings.
Zechariah 4:10 asks,
“For who hath despised the day of small things?” (KJV).
A beginning may
appear insignificant when compared with the ultimate goal. A few seeds do not
resemble a flourishing garden. A single stone laid in place does not resemble a
completed building. One act of obedience may seem small beside a great purpose.
Yet every completed
work must have a beginning.
Noah began
constructing the ark before the flood arrived. Abraham set out on a journey
without knowing every detail of the land ahead. Peter stepped out of the boat
when Jesus called him. In each case, the decisive movement came before the
complete outcome could be seen.
These biblical
accounts differ in their circumstances, but they illustrate an important truth:
a person's response to a call, command, or worthy responsibility may require
movement before every uncertainty has disappeared.
The first step does
not guarantee an easy journey. It begins the journey in which faith, wisdom,
patience, and perseverance can be exercised.
When
the Gate Is Still Closed
Many people carry
the equivalent of Eliab's garden within their hearts. They may have a book they
wish to write, a skill they hope to learn, a relationship they need to mend, a
responsibility they have postponed, or a good work they desire to undertake.
They think about the
obstacles and imagine possible failures. They wait for a more convenient
season, greater confidence, additional resources, or a future in which
circumstances will finally seem perfect.
Sometimes waiting is
wise. There are decisions that require counsel, preparation, and restraint. The
Bible does not encourage careless action or the pursuit of every passing
desire.
But there is a
difference between preparing wisely and postponing indefinitely.
Preparation equips a
person to begin; fear can persuade that person never to begin at all.
The first step need
not be dramatic. It may involve opening a book, making a necessary telephone
call, learning the first lesson, preparing the ground, or completing one small
task. What matters is that intention becomes a meaningful action consistent with
wisdom and responsibility.
The first step is
not the whole journey. It is the point at which the journey becomes real.
Conclusion:
The Journey Begins at the Gate
Eliab's garden
teaches us that a vision, however beautiful, remains only a possibility until
someone begins the work required to bring it into being.
The soil may be
uncertain, the weather unpredictable, and the harvest hidden in the future.
Nevertheless, the seed must eventually be placed in the ground.
Ecclesiastes 11:6
encourages continued effort, urging the reader to sow seed in the morning and
not withhold the hand in the evening, because the outcome of one's efforts
cannot be fully known beforehand.
The wisdom is not to
abandon judgment or ignore difficulties. It is to recognise that uncertainty is
an unavoidable part of many worthwhile undertakings.
We cannot always see
the harvest when we plant, the destination when we depart, or the completed
work when we begin. But we can recognise the opportunity before us and take the
first appropriate step.
Every great
undertaking has a beginning, and sometimes the most important act of faith is
simply to open the gate.
Reflection
The parable of Eliab
and the unopened gate reminds us that a worthy vision cannot become a reality
through imagination alone. We may dream of doing something meaningful, pray for
guidance, and prepare ourselves for the future, yet still hesitate when the
moment to begin arrives.
Often, it is not the
absence of opportunity that holds us back, but the desire to know the outcome
before we take the first step. We want assurance that our efforts will succeed,
that difficulties will remain manageable, and that our sacrifices will produce
the results we expect. However, the Bible teaches us that we cannot know
everything that tomorrow holds.
Ecclesiastes 11:4
warns against allowing uncertainty to prevent us from sowing. Similarly,
Zechariah 4:10 reminds us not to despise small beginnings. Together, these
passages encourage us to recognise the value of beginning faithfully, even when
the final result remains beyond our sight.
Initiation is not
about acting recklessly or rushing ahead without wisdom. It is about
recognising when preparation has served its purpose and the time has come to
act. The first step may be small, but it marks the beginning of progress.
Perhaps the gate
before us is a responsibility we have postponed, a good work we have feared to
undertake, or an opportunity we have repeatedly considered but never pursued.
Whatever it may be, the story invites us to consider an important truth: we do
not need to see the entire path before taking the next right step.
Application
- Identify the
unopened gate. Consider a worthwhile task, responsibility, or goal that you
have repeatedly postponed. Be honest about whether you genuinely need more
preparation or are waiting for circumstances to become perfect.
- Begin with what is
available. You may not possess every resource or every answer, but you can
often make a reasonable beginning with what you have. Like Eliab clearing a
small patch of ground, start with one manageable task.
- Combine faith with
wisdom. Do not mistake initiation for impulsiveness. Seek God's guidance,
consider the consequences, prepare responsibly, and then act when the
opportunity is appropriate.
- Accept
uncertainty. You cannot control every outcome, but you can take responsibility
for your decisions and efforts. Learn to distinguish between what you can
influence and what you must leave beyond your control.
- Continue beyond
the first step. Beginning is important, but meaningful progress also requires
patience and perseverance. Just as a garden needs continued care, a worthwhile
undertaking often needs consistent effort before its benefits become visible.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the opportunities
You place before me and for the wisdom found in Your Word. Forgive me for the
times I have allowed fear, hesitation, and the desire for certainty to keep me
from beginning what I know to be worthwhile.
Grant me the wisdom
to recognise the right opportunities, the courage to take the first step, and
the patience to continue when progress seems slow. Help me to prepare
diligently without becoming trapped in endless preparation. Teach me to trust
You without neglecting my responsibilities.
When I cannot see
the entire path ahead, remind me that I can still move forward with faith,
discernment, and a willing heart. May my beginnings be guided by Your wisdom,
my efforts be marked by integrity, and my perseverance bring forth good fruit
in due season.
Help me not to
despise small beginnings, but to remain faithful in the work You have placed
before me.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
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