Do the Next Thing
By Cathie Ostapchuk
Elisabeth Elliott often said, “When you don’t know what to do, do the next thing.”
I’ve found that to be both freeing and challenging. Sometimes, the big decisions— career moves, ministry shifts, family changes— can paralyze us. Even small choices can feel weighty when we wonder if they will ripple out in ways we can’t control. Have I missed God’s will? Did I take the wrong fork in the road?
For me, the sticking point often comes when I have about 75% certainty—just enough clarity to see the direction, but still holding 25% doubt. That remaining uncertainty can feel like a giant, blinking caution light. Fear creeps in. “What if I’m wrong? What if I fail? What if God didn’t actually ask me to do this?”
And yet, waiting for 100% confirmation before moving forward often leads to… no movement at all.
The truth is, God’s will is mysterious. But it is never fragile. His plans are not so delicate that one imperfect decision can derail them. God’s will is wide enough, strong enough, and loving enough to hold your uncertainty.
Instead of obsessing over what you don’t know, focus on Who you do know. You know the God who formed you, who is with you, who has given you every spiritual resource you need for today (2 Peter 1:3). You may not have the full map, but you do have the Guide.
So, when the path is unclear? Do the next thing.
Make the phone call. Send the email. Sign up for the class. Have the conversation. Take the step that is right in front of you, trusting that God will meet you there and lead you to the next.
I wonder if this is exactly where you are today— standing in that in-between place, longing for certainty but sensing God’s nudge. Perhaps He’s inviting you to take a step of faith into something that will grow you, stretch you, and shape you for His purposes.
If your heart has been drawn toward The Studio—our nine-month leadership coaching journey—but your mind has been busy making a list of reasons why you can’t, maybe the only question to ask today is: What’s my next thing?
For you, the next thing might be registering—simply trusting that God will provide what you need for each step after that. Not because you’ve mapped it all out, but because you know the One who holds the map.
So take the step. Do the next thing. And watch how His will unfolds—one faithful yes at a time.
I believe in you. More importantly, He is with you
