The Next Right Thing

We tend to complicate the will of God. I know so many Christians who have simply agonized over wanting to know God’s will, myself included. We expect some great things. I remember being annoyed at a youth camp when the speaker quoted 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” “This is the will of God,” they would say, and continue on to other relevant passages. I wasn’t expecting letters in the sky, or necessarily every detail to be spelled out. But I was expecting a little more direction. What I struggled to realize is that God’s will is not something we need to find. We are in it, or we are out of it. We are in God’s will as we walk in obedience to Him…and we are out of it when we do not. It is just that simple! As Elisabeth Elliot has said, “do the next right thing.” This might look like dealing with sin, talking to someone about the gospel, patiently dealing with one more toddler tantrum, doing your best at work, or choosing to be thankful in all things. Whether it’s of a spiritual or physical nature, do that next thing, as unto the Lord. He will let you know what it is. And in so doing those little things, you will be unfolding the big plan He has for your life!