DO THE NEXT THING

(Guest post by: Abby Fisher)

As July wraps up, I am aware of time passing. I can’t help but feel the tug of August and another school year starting. This change of the month has always left me a little overwhelmed about all the things I must get to for school and work. It would also be accompanied by disappointment that summer did not go the way I wished. In fact, many friends that I’ve talked with recently express feeling the same way.

I certainly don’t like feeling overwhelmed and disappointed, and I realized the Lord does not want us to feel that way either. 

You might be questioning how you could possibly feel any peace amidst all the things you’ve got to do or with the way your summer has shaped out. Well, I can truthfully tell you it is, indeed, possible.

It’s not possible by controlling how your summer goes down to every last detail or because you can ignore the work the Lord has set before you.  

What the Lord is teaching me is that peace comes by the acceptance of His will. 

There are many things in my life that I want to happen that don’t, and many things that have happened that I didn’t want. In each of these things, I must be willing to see God at work and accept it as His goodness. It’s not always easy to accept His will, and it may take some wrestling to get there, but get there I must.

I’ve often easily overlooked the story of Martha and Mary for the cliché comparison to be a Mary sitting at the Lord’s feet and not a Martha scurrying about with tasks. However, as I read Jesus’ response to Martha’s harried request for her sister’s help, I can’t help but notice the Lord’s tender response: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42). 

One thing is necessary. But what exactly is that one thing? Jesus. 

His will in that moment was for both Mary and Martha to sit at His feet. Mary accepted it. Martha had to wrestle a little. 

Jesus replaces all the tasks I think I have to get to with one simple duty. My job is to be attentive to His voice at every moment. He will show me what it is I need to do in each moment, not the next thousand moments. 

In this moment, my task is to write the words the Lord gives me. And when I’m done writing, He will show me what comes next (which I’m pretty sure is making dinner). But I’m not going to spend this time writing, worrying about how I’m going to cook the chicken or prepare the green beans. That would make for an awful blog post, now wouldn’t it?

This leads me to a principle on life I recently learned about while listening to a podcast episode by Elisabeth Elliot. When I get so overwhelmed with my to-do lists that I don’t know what to do, I shall simply do the next thing. In order to know the next thing, I must be attentive to the Lord’s leading.

I’ve started asking the Lord, “what’s the next thing?” and He has been faithful to answer each time. Rather than looking to my own selfish list of things I’d like to do, I look to Jesus for every step. This has brought me peace in the midst of chaos.

Don’t be surprised, either, when the Lord tells you the next thing and it was not on your list; it was not what you would have willed.  A month ago, I certainly did not anticipate starting new work with my dear friend teaching students about the Bible, yet here I am excited for this next thing. The next thing might even carry with it suffering as a result of the sinful world we live in, but if it is what the Lord has willed as the next thing, do the next thing, and do it well.

DO THE NEXT THING:

From an old English parsonage down by the sea

There came in the twilight a message to me;

Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,

Hath, it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.

And on through the doors the quiet words ring

Like a low inspiration: “Do the next thing.”

Many a questioning, many a fear,

Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.

Moment by moment, let down from Heaven,

Time, opportunity, and guidance are given.

Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,

Trust them with Jesus, do the next thing

Do it immediately, do it with prayer;

Do it reliantly, casting all care;

Do it with reverence, tracing His hand

Who placed it before thee with earnest command.

Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,

Leave all results, do the next thing.

-Author unknown