I remember watching an older episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show where a young woman was struggling with anorexia. She weighed just 58 pounds, but it wasn’t just her frail body that caught my attention—it was the look in her eyes. A silent cry for help.
Onstage with her was another woman who had overcome the disease. She spoke with hope, trying to encourage her: “You can get through this.” But you could see the pain in the young woman’s eyes. She wasn’t convinced. She responded with the only words she could find—“But how?”
That moment stayed with me.
How often do we tell people what to do—what path to take, what choice to make—without walking with them through it? Advice is easy to give, but for someone lost in their struggle, sometimes words aren’t enough. Sometimes, they don’t need a blueprint—they need a guide.
Jesus understood this.
He didn’t just tell people about God’s love—He showed them. He walked with the disciples, built relationships, and taught with compassion. He healed the broken, fed the hungry, and wept with those who mourned. And in the greatest act of love, He gave His life on the cross—not just to tell us the way, but to be the way.
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." (1 John 3:16)
I think back to when I first started working out. I walked into the gym, unsure of what to do. I fumbled with the weights, trying to figure it out on my own. Then a guy came over and said, “You’re going to hurt yourself lifting that way.”
At first, I wanted to tell him to mind his own business. But instead, I asked, “What am I doing wrong?”
Instead of just telling me, he showed me. He corrected my form, introduced me to others, and soon, I was training with them 4 to 5 days a week. Over time, I got stronger. I gained confidence. And eventually, I found myself teaching others—because someone took the time to walk with me, not just talk at me.
The same is true for our faith.
People don’t just need to hear about God’s love—they need to see it.
“Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." (1 John 3:18)
Think about that young woman on Oprah. When she asked “How?”—she wasn’t asking for more words. She was asking for someone to be her how.
When was the last time you became someone’s how? When was the last time you showed up for someone God assigned to you?
Jesus showed up when we couldn’t show up for ourselves. He was our how when we felt lost and abandoned. Now, He calls us to do the same for others.
Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
God doesn’t just want us to tell people about Him—He wants us to demonstrate His love. Sometimes, the how is the very thing God will use to bless others and change lives. When you take the time to invest in someone, you become the hands and feet of Jesus in their life.
1 John 3:18 reminds us, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
Maybe your how is offering a listening ear to someone who is struggling. Maybe it’s mentoring a younger believer in their faith. Maybe it’s forgiving someone who doesn’t deserve it, simply because Jesus forgave you.
Whatever it is, don’t miss the opportunity to be the how for someone who needs it.
When you let go, God moves. When you step out, God steps in. When you become the how, God gets the glory.
Pray With Me:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for being my how when I couldn’t find my way. Thank You for showing me grace, love, and truth through Your Son, Jesus. Help me to live out my faith—not just in words but in action. Show me the people You’ve assigned to me, and give me the courage to walk with them. May my life bring You glory in all things.
