The Next Step

“When the future ahead seems dark, let the next step guide you.”

Loren Thornburg

It’s the picture of walking in the dark with only a head lamp to light the way.  All I can see is that one step in front of me.  I’m tempted to lift my light to try to see what’s coming further up ahead but the light isn’t strong enough for that.  It can only cover the one step in front of me.  I couldn’t help but think that as much as I wanted the light to give me a heads up on what was to come, it was all that I needed.  I only needed that next step to guide me.  This isn’t to say that we don’t need to plan, or dream or look ahead.  For it was planning that got me on the trail with a headlamp to begin with, yet it could only take me so far.  At some point we have to go with what we’ve got, even when it’s only the next step.

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.  God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

Matthew 6:34 Message

God gets it.  He created us and He knows our capacity and our tendencies.  He knows how easy for us it is to get wrapped up and taken away by worry.  That is what He is speaking about here at the end of Matthew 6.  Jesus encourages us to focus on today instead of tomorrow.  He knows how easy it is to let worry come and take us from today.  It’s not that we shouldn’t ever think about tomorrow.  He doesn’t say that, but He does say to focus on what is going on right now as a way to protect us from the trouble that comes when we get worrying about tomorrow.  Whether we are focused on today or planning for tomorrow the key is to KNOW that God will help us deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.  So if our light only shines to let us see the next step, we can trust that God will help us with that next step.  And when the next step seems too hard, God will help us.  When it looks dark up ahead trust God to take you the next step. 

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