What’s Next?

Scriptures: , Ecclesiastes 9:10 ,Luke 16:10 ,Galatians 6:9

What’s next? A question that is always close to the front of my mind, and a question that I fear may drive my incredibly patient husband to the verge of insanity every time I think to ask it. A question that I know I am not alone in thinking and asking. In fact, it is a question that our fast paced culture impresses upon us.

It feels like we have all these checklists –

• Get through high school
• Get through college
• Find a respectable job
• Get married
• Have kids

And the list goes on…and it bleeds into our every day life and activities.

This is a dangerous mindset that can force us to skip over the here and now. I have recently found myself in a struggle with this, ‘what’s next?’ mentality when it comes to my faith. I have been asking God, ‘what’s the plan?’, ‘where do you want me?’, ‘what do you need me to do?’….and at times shouting, ‘use me already!’ I have found these thoughts to be excruciatingly frustrating, and after a time of asking and seeking have felt God impressing upon me over and over again Ecclesiastes 9:10

‘Whatever your hands find to do, do with all your strength.’

I find it so interesting to see God at work answering our prayers. This one was revealed and confirmed through a combination of unrelated morning devotions, a podcast, and my very wise and obedient to the word of God Pastor (and if he happens to read this, I promise I wrote this before you taught Wednesday night – I love how God works). With this scripture reminder came a flood of thoughts regarding the things he has already placed before me and allowed me to have a hand in. I feel as though he is saying, ‘stop asking me, ‘what’s next?’ and allow me to lead you to what’s next through the things I have already laid before you.’

I am always so thankful and embarrassed at the same time when God presents these palm to forehead moments. My obsessive thoughts of ‘what is next?’ stole my focus on the here and now. Why on earth would I think God would give me more responsibility when I overlooked the things he trusted me with first? A question I think more than just I struggle with…

Scripture tells us in Luke 16:10

‘If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.’

It is silly to ask God to give us more, when we are not focused wholeheartedly on the things he has already given. We must be faithful, and we must remember, yes, it is good to desire more, and to want more of Him, but let us not forget that tomorrow is not promised. So wherever God has you, and whatever God has placed in your hands to do, do it with all your heart, and allow him to lead you and grow you, in HIS time. He is sovereign and he is good, and his promise is true. If you are seeking more of him, and desiring to be used more don’t forget Luke 16:10

‘If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.’

I am confident if we hold up our end of the bargain and we are faithful in those little things, he will most definitely bring in those larger things, and maybe, just maybe what you/we see as small things…maybe, they are truly magnificent, and far more reaching than our human eyes can see. Galatians 6:9 serves as a great reminder,

‘and let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not’

…meditate on these scriptures with me today. Let us revolt against our ‘what’s next mentality’ refocus ourselves together on where God has us in this very moment, and pray that God will help us with whatever our hand finds to do, to do it with all of our strength…join me today…Choose him.