July 13, 2026
I believe it’s important for all of us, myself included, to recognize the value of weaving our whole selves into this world—moment by moment and season by season—and when we do, I find that one of the greatest areas where we are tempted to be frustrated in our lives is believing in something that hasn't happened yet.
What do we do while we're waiting? During that gap between believing and seeing, we don't stop living. We don't become passive. We continue strengthening our beliefs while wisely managing today's reality.
Whenever I face a challenge or pursue a dream, I ask myself two questions:
What do I need to believe?
What do I need to do?
The first question anchors my heart with perspective rather than in my circumstances. The second invites wisdom into my daily decisions. It asks, "What is the wise thing for me to do today while I continue believing for tomorrow?" And this wisdom, done in faith, will accelerate the manifestation of what we are believing for.
Those two questions have kept me from both passivity and discouragement. I love saying it this way: Belief determines my destination. Wisdom determines how I travel until I get there.
We are all living with a gap between what we believe and what we are experiencing. This gap is where we develop perseverance, deepen our character, are taught wisdom, and strengthen our faith. Truly, our feelings and experiences will catch up to our beliefs, and the gap time is where we live by faith and manage our lives well with glorious wisdom.
Intentionally Own It! What growth does this message inspire me to embrace, and why does it matter? When I embrace it, who am I becoming, and what value does this add to my life and to others?
Adapted from Steve Backlund