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.
Read also: The Lord Will Always Make a Way - Tyler’s Story of God’s Provision
Zane at the 2023 NFL Draft
The Power of Divine Community: God Ordering Your Steps
One of the most powerful examples of Zane’s faith in God and God’s faithfulness in his story came through an unexpected detour 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 a friendship was born. That encounter sparked a new idea: bringing celebrities and athletes together through fishing experiences!
This is what steps of faith look like in real life. Not grand, orchestrated plans but divine appointments hidden in dlayed flights and seemingly small conversations.
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.
Small Steps of Faith, Bigger Results
Zane’s journey proves that small steps of faith compound over time. What begins as a single internship, a prayer, or a conversation during a vacation becomes a platform with national reach.
Here’s what faith in God one step at a time actually looks like in practice from Zane’s story:
Pray first. Let daily prayer precede every decision.
Surrender the full picture. You don’t ned to see the whole path to obey - just take the next step of obedience to God.
Stay obedient in the small things. A fishing idea became a viral movement.
Don’t compare your pace. God’s plan for you isn’t based on someone else’s or even your own logical timeline.
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 returns to scripture for encouragement and leans on daily prayer as his anchor. 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.”
This is the true essence of steps of faith: not certainty, but obedience. Not a perfect plan but full surrender.
Read also: More Than a Game: Coaching with Kingdom Purpose Through Unwavering Faith
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The Bible consistently call us to trust the Lord even when we don’t understand. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
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Daily prayer keeps you in a position to receive God’s wisdom. and hear His direction. James 1:5 promises: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
