Do the Next Thing
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with four little words of great advice.
When I am in pain, when I feel weary of my wheelchair, I look to great saints who have suffered, and suffered well. One of those saints is Elisabeth Elliot; she’s the missionary who continued to serve the Amazon tribal people; the very ones who murdered her husband. She remained on the mission field with her little girl for many years, persevering through pain to not only serve her Savior, but to carry out the legacy of her beloved husband, Jim Elliot. I cannot begin to imagine the deep grief, pain and extensive loss she endured during her missionary service, but in that time, Elisabeth Elliot popularized an old poem. The poem’s commonsense simplicity has encouraged many anxious and weary saints over the decades, including me. The poem goes like this:
From an old English parsonage down by the sea
There came in the twilight a message to me;
Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,
Hath, it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.
And on through the doors the quiet words ring
Like a low inspiration: “DO THE NEXT THING.”
Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from Heaven,
Time, opportunity, and guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus, do the next thing
Do it immediately, do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care;
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,
Leave all results, do the next thing.
Looking for Jesus, ever serener,
Working or suffering, be thy demeanor;
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance be thy psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing.
Then, as He beckons thee, do the next thing.
– Elizabeth Elliot
Oh friend, there is so many phrases in that poem that ring so true to the suffering one. Be stayed on omnipotence. Anchor your hope to the Rock, Jesus Christ. Fear not your tomorrows because they can be trusted in the hands of Jesus. Look to Jesus and let His dear presence be your rest. And sing… be sure to sing as you do the next thing, whether that be the next load of laundry, the next accounts payable report, the next hospital exam, the next meal to prepare, the next bill to pay, the next Sunday school lesson you prepare, or the next neighbor you counsel. Because when you are in pain or grief, you are tempted to just stop and collapse. Just throw in the towel. Just let go and give up. When you’re suffering, you are tempted to abandon your convictions, and just cave in. But don’t. Follow Elisabeth Elliot’s lead and do the next thing.
This idea is echoed in Philippians Chapter 3, verse 12, all about straining toward the goal, where it says, “I press on to make the high calling of knowing Jesus as my own because Christ Jesus has made me His own.” So friend, press on; strive, keep moving forward. If you’d like a copy of this remarkable poem, you can find it on my radio page today at joniandfriends.org/radio, or follow me on Facebook and share it with your friends. By the way, I had the honor of speaking at Elisabeth Elliot’s memorial service in 2015 and this poem was printed as a memento. Consider printing a copy for your friend who is grieving or struggling with chronic pain. For that matter, it could be a prescription for you today, right? Just do the next thing. That’s good advice from Elizabeth Elliot and its great advice from joniandfriends.org/radio. God bless you today and thanks for listening to Joni and Friends.
© Joni and Friends
