"Trust God and Do The Next Thing"

Recently, I received some challenging news regarding my current employment. I need to make a decision whether to continue my counseling with my current practice group or establish my own private practice. The director of our practice group has been talking to the clinicians in our four locations about his plans to retire in a few years. However, we assumed we had at least two years before we had to decide what to do after the practice closed it's doors. Apparently, finances have become challenging to the point where the director felt it necessary to make some hard decisions. As a result, the site where my office is located needs to be eliminated this year. My initial reaction was one of anger and then fear began to set in. The news took me completely by surprise and I began to think of the financial implications. My husband is planning to retire at the beginning of next year which leaves me as the sole income earner apart from his social security benefits. 

What was I going to do?

I decided to gather as much information as possible before making a final decision as to how soon to leave the practice. In the meantime, a friend had invited me to a concert with contemporary Christian recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman. The opening act was a fellow artist who has been a long time friend of Mr. Chapman's and his name is Geoff Moore. Before introducing a new song he had written for his upcoming album, Geoff Moore talked about his lifelong struggle with anxiety. He stated he had difficulty not being able to predict what was going to happen in his life in the future. A turning point came upon reading author Oswald Chamber's devotional book entitled, "My Utmost For His Highest." This particular devotional is a classic and has been a favorite standard of followers of Christ for many years. One line in particular became Geoff Moore's "saving grace" and has encouraged him during his times of doubt and fear. Oswald Chambers states, "When you don't know what to do, trust God and do the next thing. Take the next obvious step in front of you and trust God to lead you." Those words truly ministered to my spirit and helped me to take a new and different perspective on my situation. 

Abraham trusted God

I am reminded of Abraham who trusted God and left all he knew to go to the promised land although he lived there as a sojourner. (Genesis 12; Hebrews 11:8-9) As a result of his obedience we are told, "Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness." (Genesis 15:6 NIV) Abraham in essence did what Oswald Chambers encouraged believers to do, "trust God and do the next thing." What about you? Can you take the next step of faith in an unknown situation and trust God to be with you? As I prayerfully consider the next step to take, I can rest in the knowledge that God will go before me, leading me down the next path in my life's journey towards the kingdom of God.

Shalom,
Pastor Sheree