The Next Right Thing

From Disney songs and poems to podcasts and authors, I keep hearing the challenge,

do the next right thing.

Have you heard the song, that Anna sings in Disney’s Frozen II? Some of the words go like this,

So I’ll walk through this night

Stumbling blindly toward the night

And do the next right thing

And, with it done, what comes then?

When it’s clear that everything will never be the same again

Then I’ll make the choice to hear that voice

And do the next right thing

The words of that song stood out to me months ago when I first heard it, and the phrase it speaks keeps dropping right in front of me like raindrops on a windshield during a storm. 

We are all bombarded each day with decisions that have to be made and steps that need to be taken to make it to the next task or responsibility on our list. But how do we know what the next right thing to do is? What is that next step that we are supposed to take on this journey we are walking right now? What happens if what we think the next right thing is, really is the wrong thing?

I’ve been struggling with these questions. I’ve been dreaming and setting goals for the future, for my family, for myself. I’m guessing that many of you have too. But how do we get there? Is there a right or wrong pathway to reach for the dreams and goals that God has given me? What direction do I take? How do I navigate the time it takes to reach these goals when there are so many balls of life that I’m trying to juggle? Home, family, job decisions, kids, homeschool, cleaning, cooking, friendships, church, ministry, serving, helping others. The list seems to be endless and the time seems to be so short. How can I fit everything in? How can I keep reaching toward these dreams and goals when I feel that I can barely manage the basic responsibilities that are in my life right now? 

And then it comes. 

Overwhelm. Anxiety. Paralysis.

That’s what I feel…until I remember the words that God has been consistently placing in my mind. 

Do the next right thing.

This phrase has helped me breakdown the big picture into smaller pieces so that progress is made. 

This helps when I’m thinking about how to get the house in order, planning what homeschool is going to look like the next week, day, or hour. It also helps in making financial decisions, business decisions, big family decisions, and decisions on reaching goals and dreams. Sometimes the next right thing is to push the covers off and put my feet on the floor to begin the day. Doing the next right thing helps in big and small stuff.

When we were in Europe, sometimes walking up to ten miles through the city in a day, my kids would often ask the common question, “How much further do we have to go? Are we almost there?”

I usually replied with an answer that I hoped would balance encouragement and flexibility. “With every step, we are getting closer. Just keep taking one step at a time and we will be there soon,” I would say. Those words usually were enough to keep them moving. I may not have known exactly how far away we were from our destination, but I knew that with every step we were headed in a direction that would get us there. 

Isn’t that how it is in our lives? We are taking steps on this journey of life and reaching toward new goals and dreams. Many times we are just trying to make it through another day and we wonder, “How much further do we have to go? Are we almost there?” 

Then we can hear God whispering, “Follow Me. Just keep taking steps. Take one step at a time and I will lead you. Listen to Me and do just do the next right thing.” Trusting that He knows the path, we take a step and then another, and with each step we make it through the day, we make it to the place that God has placed in our hearts.

I can hear Him say,

“Do the next right thing…

…even if you’re afraid.

…even if you don’t want to do it.

Do the next right thing…

…trusting that I am bigger than any wrong turn you might make. 

…trusting that with every step made, there will be a next step waiting for you to take.

…trusting that I have placed you here to take these steps at this time.

Do the next right thing…

…knowing that My timing is perfect.

…knowing that I have a purpose. 

…knowing that the journey is a big part of the purpose.

…knowing you are making a difference.

…knowing that I am using this journey in ways that you may not see.”

I’ll leave you with a poem that was written by Elizabeth Elliot, one of the wisest women I have learned of. My sister sent me a copy of this poem and it spoke to my heart just as the words “do the next right thing” have spoken to me all the other times I’ve heard them lately. 

No matter what our journey is like, if we are following Him, the ultimate guide to living, then we are doing the right thing. Being in His will is the right thing. He leads us. He gives wisdom. He gives direction. I pray that you are encouraged to lay your overwhelm, anxiety, and paralysis aside and seek Him for wisdom. He will lead you to do the next right thing. 

Many a questioning, many a fear,

Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.

Moment by moment let down from heaven,

Time, opportunity, 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 resultings, Do the next thing.

—Elizabeth Elliot

The photos in this post were taken at the Baptistery in Florence, Italy in January 2020. These mosaic tiles have seen millions of feet from all over the world that are striving to do the next right thing on their journey of life.