Do the Next Thing
Fear not tomorrows, child of the King; trust them with Jesus, do the next thing. Minnie Kenney Paul
Elisabeth Elliot and her husband, Jim, served as missionaries in Ecuador. When Jim and four other missionaries were killed by Auca Indians whom they had been trying to reach with the gospel, she stayed on in Ecuador with another American missionary. They stayed with the very tribe that had killed her husband and his friends. She sensed that God wanted her to translate the Bible into the Auca language, and the best place to do it was amongst the Aucas themselves. During her time there, she was able to forgive those who had killed her husband. She was instrumental in the radical transformation of the Aucas through the gospel message.
Seven years later, she returned to the United States with her daughter, where she became a prolific speaker and the author of many inspirational books. She also hosted a radio program called Gateway to Joy. I, and many others, have been encouraged by her talks and books. One of the things she talked about that stuck with me was “doing the next thing.” This statement comes from a poem, written in the nineteenth century by Minnie Kenney Paul. She believed that while you are waiting on God to act, why not “do the next thing?”
Fear Not Tomorrow
The 3rd stanza of the poem says,
Do it immediately. Do it with prayer.
Do it reliantly, casting all care.
Do it with reverence, tracing Christ’s hand.
He placed it before you with earnest command.
Rest on His omnipotence, safe beneath His wing.
Leave all results. DO THE NEXT THING.
When we are waiting on God for something specific – a new job, a new home, a breakthrough in relationships, provision - we don’t have to do it passively. We can go about our normal business and actively ask God to show us what’s next. Doing the next thing is about obedience and yielding to Him as we wait. It’s not about looking for distractions. It’s an active declaration that we trust that He knows what He is doing in our lives, even if it doesn’t make sense. It’s about allowing Him to lead us along the best pathway He has for our lives. Each step along HIs pathway, each “next thing,” will be a step closer to the thing we are waiting for
The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8 (NLT)
As we take these steps, we can rest in His omnipotence, in our all-powerful King Jesus who calls us His child. Who says, “Do not fear tomorrow; rest in my protection; I am watching over you. Just do the next thing”
It is today for which we are responsible. God still owns tomorrow. Elisabeth Elliot
Reflection:
While you are waiting, will you trust God to show you the next thing He wants you to do as He guides you along the best pathway for your life?
Prayer:
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for guiding me along the best pathway for my life. Please show me the next thing You want me to do while I wait. Help me not to fear tomorrow. Help me to rest in Your protection as You watch over me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
