Walking with Jesus

When the Walk Is Difficult

Pastor Calvin Cook
August 28, 2026 — Day 34 of 40

Scripture: Micah 6:8

“God has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

As I think about the teachings of Jesus—not only how we are to walk, but why we walk the way we do—I find myself thinking back to a time when I was out in the woods of Somerset County with my dad. My dad wanted me to learn everything he had learned and to know how to do the things he knew how to do. I am thankful for those lessons and often think back on them, even though, at the time, I did not always appreciate them.

We were walking up one of those steep hills that seemed more like a mountain to me. My natural way of walking was to point my toes straight uphill and try to climb directly to the top. But Dad taught me a better way. In the steepest and most difficult parts of the climb, he showed me how to turn my feet sideways and carefully place one foot after another. Walking that way gave me better balance, kept me from slipping, and made the steep climb a little easier.

My dad was not simply telling me where to go. He was teaching me how to walk so I could safely reach where we were going.

Today, Jesus is doing the same for us. He does not merely call us to follow Him and then leave us to figure out the journey alone. Through the words of Micah, God gives us direction for every step:

Act justly.
Love mercy.
Walk humbly with your God.

To act justly means choosing to do what is right, even when it is difficult or inconvenient. We speak for those whose voices are ignored. We treat people fairly. We refuse to look away when someone is being hurt or forgotten.

To love mercy means more than occasionally showing kindness. It means mercy becomes part of who we are. We forgive because we have been forgiven. We offer grace because God has given grace to us. We see people not simply for what they have done, but for what God can still do in their lives.

To walk humbly with God means recognizing that we do not have every answer and that we cannot make this journey in our own strength. Humility keeps us close enough to God to listen, learn, and allow Him to correct our steps.

Jesus perfectly demonstrated this way of walking. He stood with those who were mistreated. He showed mercy to sinners. He humbled Himself and became obedient, even to the cross. If we are truly walking with Jesus, these same qualities should begin to be seen in us.

The path before us will sometimes become steep. There will be places where we feel unsure of our footing and moments when we are tempted to choose an easier way. But Jesus continues to teach us how to walk.

Maybe the question today is not simply, “Am I walking with Jesus?” Perhaps we also need to ask, “Am I learning to walk the way Jesus walks?”

Today, may we place our feet where He places His. May we act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God—one faithful step at a time.

The message has been shared. Now it is up to each of us to decide what we will do with what we have received.

Keep walking with Jesus.