Excerpted from a talk by Elisabeth Elliot
DO THE NEXT THING
From an old English parsonage, down by the sea
There came in the twilight a message to me;
Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,
Hath, as it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.
And on through the hours the quiet words ring
Like a low inspiration--"DO THE NEXT THING."
Many a question, many of 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."
Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
(Working or suffering) be thy demeanor,
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance be thy psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing,
Then, as He beckons thee, "DO THE NEXT THING."
A word for those of you who might be wondering, How do I know what the next thing is? George MacDonald wrote:
"'What is my next duty? What is the thing that lies nearest to me?'"
The answer comes, "'That...belongs to your every-day history. No one can answer that question but yourself. Your next duty is just to determine what your next duty is--Is there nothing you neglect? Is there nothing you know you ought not to do?--You would know your duty, if you thought in earnest about it, and were not ambitious of great things.'
"'Ah then,'" responded she, "'I suppose it is something very commonplace, which will make life more dreary than ever. That cannot help me.'
"'It will help you, if it be as dreary as reading the newspapers to an old deaf aunt. It will soon lead you to something more. Your duty will begin to comfort you at once, but will at length open the unknown fountain of life in your heart.'"
Thomas Carlisle said, "Do the duty which lies nearest thee. Thy second duty will have become clearer."
And from Elisabeth Elliot’s daughter Valerie: “Don't sit down and think of all the things you have to do. That will kill you. It's overwhelming. It's daunting if you think of all the things that are involved in a task. Just pick up the next thing."
What is the next thing for you to do? Small duties, perhaps? Jobs that nobody will notice as long as you do them? A dirty job that you would get out of if you could have your own preferences? Are you asked to take some great responsibility, which you really don't feel qualified to do? You don't have to do the whole thing right this minute, do you? I can tell you one thing that you do have to do right this minute. It's the one thing that is required of all of us every minute of every day. Trust in the living God.
Now what is the next thing? Well, perhaps it's to get yourself organized. Maybe you need to clean off your desk, if you have a desk job that needs to be done. Maybe you need to clean out your kitchen drawers, if you're going to do your kitchen work more efficiently. Maybe you need to organize the children's clothes.
Elisabeth continues: I remembered a verse that God had given to me before I went to Ecuador in Isaiah 50:7: "The Lord God will help me; therefore, shall I not be confounded. Therefore, have I set my face like a flint and I know that I shall not be ashamed."
I don't know who's listening today who has just suffered a tremendous blow, perhaps the loss of someone you love, the loss through divorce or abandonment or death? God knows. May I just offer you this little word--do the next thing. Ask the Lord to show you the humble, simple, ordinary thing. Perhaps it's something you can do for somebody else.
And you'll be amazed at the consolation that obedience brings. Trust and obey--for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.
