The Next Right Thing
With my “yes” on the table, I turned my second Bible study manuscript over to my editor a few weeks ago. I clicked send and almost simultaneously thought, now what? While pondering this question, in several unrelated places, I began to see and hear the same phrase: “do the next right thing.” I heard it in a conversation with a friend, listening to a ministry lesson, and at a writers’ & speakers’ conference. I saw it on my social media feed, in books I’ve been reading, and just today – at the local library. The Next Right Thing – it’s even the title of a book.
I’m always amazed when God does things like that. I mean, who else could possibly orchestrate all these various avenues to declare the exact same message at the same time? I don’t know about you, but often I desire a well-laid plan, a how-to guide for what comes next, even a guarantee of success before I’m willing to take a risk…or even just take a step. I typically want to know what I’m in for before I get my feet wet.
It doesn’t seem, however, that Joshua shared any of my hesitancies when he stood with the Israelites at the banks of the Jordan River (Joshua 3). As a newly appointed leader, Joshua displayed confidence in God’s power to do great things. And after receiving a message from the Lord, Joshua passed it along to the priests, who carried the Ark of the Covenant - the very presence of God in their midst. He told them to step into the river and then stop…and that’s all he said! Joshua also gave instructions to the people reminding them that God was leading them. He told them that when the priests stepped into the river, the water flow would be cut off, the river would stand up like a wall, and the Israelites would all pass through safely on dry ground.
But first they had to get their feet wet. Those men needed an extra measure of courage and faith, and enough trust in God to step into the water before God would make His next move. They had to be willing to do the next right thing.
God doesn’t always give us the details of His plan. But He does promise to go before us. He promises to be with us always. He promises to work all things for our good. He is the God who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or imagine. First though, we have to be willing to get our feet wet. We have to step into the water and do the next right thing…and then the next …and the next and the next – all the while trusting God to make a way through the waves and the worries of our lives. Well-laid plans and how-to guides may never be set before us, but we rest secure because God is leading the way.
As I scanned the rows of books in the library this morning, The Next Right Thing nearly jumped off the shelf. I paused, shaking my head and laughing quietly to myself. As I snapped the picture, I noticed the titles and order of the surrounding books. And I realized another life truth: that sandwiched between bravery and greatness is faithfulness to do the next right thing. We can’t dream big without willingness to take the next step.
What is your next right thing? Do you have the faith of Joshua and his men? Are you willing to get your feet wet?
Meet me at the river. The Son is shining and the water’s fine…and God is preparing to unleash wonders if we are faithful and obedient to do the next right thing.
