I don’t remember every homily I’ve ever heard—but one from college has always stuck with me.
Our chaplain preached a simple but profound message: sometimes, all you can do is the next best thing.
Not the perfect thing. Not the final thing. Just the next best step.
When life feels overwhelming—bills piling up, health concerns creeping in, a sick child needing care—it’s easy to spiral into worry. We get stuck thinking ten steps ahead, trying to predict every possible problem. What if step six goes wrong? What if step ten is impossible?
But God doesn’t ask us to have it all figured out. He asks us to trust Him one step at a time.
So what’s the next best thing? Pay the first bill. Schedule the doctor’s appointment. Say a prayer.
Small steps, taken in faith, lead us forward. And when we trust God with the next step, He takes care of the rest.