Do The Next Thing

Our state is once again tightening restrictions due to corona virus. Sunday at  midnight will usher in more restrictions.

It's disheartening to realize that others are suffering and that life will be more restricted

Folks are sharing the tension they feel as life changes in ways they can't control.

I was reminded today of an old poem Elisabeth Elliot shared from the time her dear husband was missing during a missionary journey.

There was a period of waiting for news of what had happened to him and the other men that were with him. 

Elisabeth and her baby and the wives and children of the other missing men had to carry on with necessary tasks while dealing with the anxiety in their hearts.

The sad news of the men's deaths unfolded slowly. The women waited as peacefully as they could before the Lord while still ministering to all the needs about them.

In the numbness and confusion of thoughts that took hold of their minds and hearts during that difficult time Elisabeth found purpose in carrying out the simple tasks at hand each day. She disciplined herself to carry on by simply doing the next thing.

It gave structure to her day and helped the time of waiting to pass with a little less anxiety. Her heart was able to rest more in the Lord as she met the needs in front of her.

We are learning to wait and do the next thing during the uncertainty of our days also aren't we?  There are many changes we have no choices in. Our days may feel more restricted as this difficult virus lingers.

So....we just do the next thing.

Make a soup and homemade bread.

Tidy the closets

Write a letter.

Pray.

Rake leaves.

Exercise.

Pray some more.

Wait patiently.

Sing praises to the Lord.

Just do the next thing.

Find something practical that needs doing and do it. Just keep busy.

And make the choice to trust and maintain joyful confidence in Christ.

It can take some work to maintain a cheerful

trusting heart.  But we know it's important, because the one thing we can be in control of is our heart response and our expression of faith in the Lord's perfect wisdom.

Just smiling, humming and speaking cheerfully is a huge ministry to others.

Kind and gentle words in the midst of mind numbing situations brings peace into the hearts we are living and working among.

Our journey through this season may be lengthy, but it can be made endurable by choosing to be a light in the darkness.