what's next

A phrase we often here in our house is, “what’s next?” Usually, it is coming from Margaret shortly after we’ve finished a meal, or she has finished another snack. Now she is wondering “what’s next?” However, this is a short two word phrase that can be used in various ways. It can be used as we just saw when wondering what our next meal or snack is… It can be used while at an amusement park wondering what ride we are going on next. “What’s next” is often heard regarding an agenda at a board meeting, but it can also be used in a dismal way, wondering… What’s next? It signifies an expectation that some impending doom is on the horizon, or we are just waiting for the next bad thing to happen. God didn’t design us to feel that way. 2 Timothy 1:7 says For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. God never designed us to live a life of fear. He designed us to be happy, to love and to live an adventurous life. He wants us to look forward to what’s next. Not to fear it. If you are living in fear and anxious about what’s next then you are not living life the way God designed you to live. When I say God wants us to live an adventurous life, I don’t necessarily mean bungee jumping or climbing Mount Everest. Being adventurous can simply be trying to do something different without knowing if it will or won’t work out. Sometimes this requires going outside of our comfort zone. Sometimes this going outside of our comfort zone and trying something new and different means doing something specifically for God in hopes of advancing His Kingdom… It may be reaching out to that friend or co-worker not knowing how they will respond. Maybe they respond positively, maybe they respond negatively. God does promise us a spirit of power, love and sound mind. However, God never promised us we would never have failure and setbacks. As a matter of fact, sometimes what we see as failure, or a setback is actually God planting a seed of success or growth. John 12:24 Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. That poor little seed. If it actually had a mind and a conscious, the moment it hits the ground and seemingly dies, it would have a feeling of, what just happened? Is that it? Is life really over just like that? A person watching this process not knowing how agriculture works may think the same thoughts about that poor little seed. The reality is, God has amazing plans for that little seed to sprout and produce many more grains of wheat that can sustain life.
 
So, the next time you are wondering, “what’s next,” remember Psalm 37:3-5 Trust in the Lord and do good; Live in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. We always need to remember, God’s what’s next for us is possibly very different than whatever it is that we may ever hope for or be expecting.