In a sense, it is natural to worry about the future. The future belongs to a time and place that we cannot see and have limited ability to control. The unknown tends to lead us to a bit of anxiety.

At the same time, whatever it is that we might want to do, it is often unclear how we might even work our way to it. It isn’t often obvious what steps need to be taken to get there nor whether those steps are even possible. We may have all sorts of hopes for the future, but we must deal with the reality of the situation we are in.

I have often found it helpful to think about faithfulness in the thing right in front of us. By faithfulness, I do not necessarily mean sticking at or doing with all our might the thing right in front of us. What I mean is, if this is right for now, then doing it with all our might and if it is not then doing what is necessary to get out.

The question immediately in front of us in any situation is not ‘what do we need to do to get to wherever we want?’ but rather ‘is it right for me to continue doing this or not?’ This can be helpful as a general rubric.

The question in front of us is the one that matters. If it isn’t right to be doing this, the appropriate thing is to stop doing it. The question of what we do once we have stopped doing it is moot until we make that decision. If the thing in front of us is right for us to be doing, we should give ourselves wholeheartedly to doing it, for it is right, at least for now.

Sometimes it helps to make matters simple. The faithful decision is the one right in front of us. Whatever the answer to that, we faithfully do it and then address the fallout after. If we are seeking to make a faithful decision before the Lord in this immediate decision, then we can trust that he will faithfully care for us in whatever else may occur thereafter.