1.4 What is an Adaptive Map?
By examining Abram’s journey in Genesis 12 through the Adaptive Mapping framework, we illustrate how Abram’s response to God’s call — despite uncertainties and challenges — serves as a model for identifying our own purpose and calling. This framework encourages us to assess our lives, identify the voices around us, and embrace our role in God’s unfolding story, mirroring Abram’s journey of faith and courage.
Following Abram’s Call
Genesis 12 is more than a fascinating historical account; it serves as a profound model for us today. As Abram is called to leave everything he knows, we glimpse what it means to respond to God’s call with courage and faith. Through an adaptive mapping strategy, we can reflect on Abram’s journey and see how it relates to our own lives, helping us navigate both the known and the unknown.

1. Embracing the Call and Letting Go:
God’s call to Abram begins with a radical instruction: a call to leave behind his comfort, security, and support structures. Abram’s obedience marks the first key step in any journey of faith—letting go. Like Abram, we may be called to leave what feels familiar or safe to grow into God’s purposes.

2. Facing The Questions: Abram’s world includes blessings, such as a supportive family, but also challenges, like his wife’s barrenness, which contrasts the promise of “becoming a great nation.” These contrasts highlight areas of both certainty and doubt. Reflecting paradigm questions helps us clarify our own situations, identify obstacles, and acknowledge areas where God might be calling us to grow or adapt.

3. Recognizing God’s Character and Partnership: Throughout Abram’s journey, God’s “I will” statements create a foundation of trust and partnership. God’s promises reveal His faithfulness and His desire for us to participate in His plans. When we focus on His character rather than our limitations, we can move confidently, even into the unknown.

Abram’s story reveals how the journey of faith isn’t about having a roadmap with all the answers; it’s about embracing a relationship with God, trusting His character, and partnering with Him as we move forward. Just as Abram stepped forward with faith in God’s character, we too are invited to move forward, not because we know all the answers, but because we trust God’s nature. As we apply these insights, we’re equipped to build an adaptive map for our lives—one that keeps us grounded in faith and open to God’s unfolding purposes.


Discussion Questions

  1. What elements in your life currently feel 'right,' 'wrong,' 'missing,' or 'confused,' and how do you apply the Adaptive Map process in your situation?
  2. How do you differentiate between a genuine call to change and mere desire or societal pressure in your life?
  3. Reflect on a time you had to make a significant life decision or felt a personal call. What voices influenced you, and how did you decide which to follow?
  4. In what ways can understanding God's character help in navigating personal life challenges?
  5. Abram’s call led to a promise of becoming a great nation. How can personal calls or missions lead to broader impacts on community or society in today's world?
  6. What does "leaving your country and your father’s household" symbolize in your personal life or career? How can stepping out of one’s comfort zone be beneficial or challenging?
  7. Discuss the role of community and mentorship in helping to clarify one's life path?
  8. What does the concept of a "chiasm" in biblical storytelling reveal about the focus of God's promises in our own stories?
Participate in the conversation.
This podcast is a companion to the book Map Your Life Mission (download for free or buy on Amazon). Trent and Josh tell stories, ask personal questions, develop the Adaptive Map framework, and connect the Biblical narrative in each episode.