Upheld in Doing the Next Thing

I’ve been thinking about all these things I’ve been learning in the whirlwind of the last few weeks. What it means to follow Jesus, not despairing when the wind blows, because it means He has a new direction for me to go, and believing that He will work it out for me to go in that new direction.

I want His vision for me, but how do I not get sidetracked? I want to serve the Lord in the place where He puts me. I also want my gifts and talents to be used. And sometimes my vision gets clouded and I don’t see what He has fashioned me for because the mist is too thick in front of me. Sometimes I am so sure where He is leading and the training begins and suddenly—a door closes in my face. I stand there wondering what to do next.

Should I be upset? Can I move on and if I do, will it be forward motion? How will I know?

I recently discovered that I like building new projects, I like being part of innovation. I get excited about “seeing” what can be rather than what is now. I like taking some risks to see what will happen. As I look over my life, there is a pattern of leading in new directions and building teams and other kinds of organizational streams, and this adds spice to my life.

I recently thought I would be a part of a new operation, but suddenly—that door closed in my face. I stood there for a while. I started to get upset. And I saw before me two choices: I can get upset and impede all progress for my life for now, or I can choose to let it go and see what the next step is for me.

It took a few days, but I chose the next step. A favorite author of mine, Stephanie Grace Whitson, writes in one of her books that when you are in doubt about what God wants you to do; then just do the next thing.

Tomorrow I will get up and go to work and just do the next thing. God will lead and as He does, the new direction will open up for me, too.

Go ahead—try it. Just do the next thing, and trust that He will come through. He will. I promise.

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work” II Thess 2:16,17. NKJV.