Steps of Faith: How Big Victories Start With Small Acts of Obedience
Taking small steps of faith without seeing the full picture isn’t weakness, it’s exactly how God moves. Zane Hampton, a Tulsa native now working as a sports agent in Nashville, learned this truth firsthand. His story is a powerful reminder that faith in God doesn’t require a perfect plan, it only requires your next step.
From Tulsa to Nashville: One Step of Faith at a Time
Zane grew up with two passions: sports and entrepreneurship. During his time at Oral Roberts University, he interned with a sports agency and even had the opportunity to represent an influencer that was announcing a pick at the NFL Draft. This experience was thrilling and showed Zane that this was the direction he wanted to go, though he didn’t immediately have a five-year plan.
This is the reality of steps of faith: you rarely see the whole blueprint. Zane knew a general direction, but he definitely didn’t have a laid out step-by-step roadmap for success. With an understanding that he would have to forge his own path forward, he prioritized daily prayer and asked God to order his steps.
“We often want to see the full picture, but God usually leads us step by step."
Taking the first faithful step matters more than knowing the final destination.
Why Daily Prayer Is the First Step
Zane’s foundation for every decision is daily prayer and surrender. Before strategy, networking, hustle, prayer comes first.
This mirrors Philippians 4:6-7, one of Zane’s favorite passages of Scripture:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Daily prayer is not a ritual - it’s a posture of surrender that positions you to receive God’s direction.
Zane at the 2023 NFL Draft
The Power of Divine Community
Zane has continuously seen the faithfulness of God in ordering his steps. One powerful example of this came during a family trip to Turks & Caicos. After unexpected flight delays, his family almost didn’t make it…but they did. On that trip, Zane met the youngest African American professional bass fisherman (who was on his way OUT of Turks & Caicos!) and built a friendship that sparked a new idea: bringing celebrities and athletes together through fishing experiences!
After posting his vision on LinkedIn, hundreds of athletes and agents responded. Terry McLaurin became the first guest, and they have even had the legendary Steve Harvey on the show.
Words of Wisdom
Zane knows that he is far from the finish line of his journey. Though his way forward isn’t always crystal clear, he leans on his faith and often returns to scripture for encouragement. One of his favorite verses is Philippians 4:6-7: “6 […] do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (ESV)
What piece of advice would Zane leave with us? Simply this:
Don’t obsess over the end goal or compare yourself to others.
Trust God daily, know His Word, stay in a strong community, and keep moving forward one step at a time.
