Next Steps
“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” - Proverbs 16:9
It was over two years ago now that Rebecca and I obeyed the voice of the Lord by going into the mission field. In our best understanding at the time, we had made it known that we would be on the mission field for five years. We were planning our way knowing full well it is the Lord who establishes our steps.
Every season of my life has been marked by this reality. Eric plans his way, the Lord establishes his step. Back when God called me into full-time ministry, I made a decision to trust the rest of my life to Him. I quit my job and I went to seminary, the step the Lord had established, thinking I would go into sports ministry, planning my way. All throughout seminary I never wanted to stay in Kentucky, planning my way. But two years later we (now I was married to Rebecca) sensed the Lord wanting us to stay. It did not make sense at the time because there weren’t any jobs open that we were interested in. Until a few weeks later when a job opened up for me to become a Resident Director at Asbury University, the Lord establishing our steps. Early in my third year at Asbury University, Rebecca and I thought we would be there a few more years, planning our way. It was only a few months later that we sensed Him leading us into a new season in Indiana, the Lord establishing our steps. When Rebecca and I first visited Nappanee and Ligonier, IN, we wondered if the Lord would have us plant roots there, attempting to plan our way. Two years later we were packing our bags for Italy as the Lord was establishing our steps.
In their hearts Eric and Rebecca plan their way, but the Lord establishes their steps.
After serving in Italy for just over one year, we made the decision to return to the United States. What a year it has been. We moved to a new country, immersed ourselves in a new language and culture, and joined a team of missionaries with the hope of seeing disciples made and churches planted. We grew in our ability to use the language, we added a child to our family, we helped disciple existing believers, we shared the gospel with people from all over the world (Italy, Gambia, Egypt, Sweden, Holland, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Togo, and more) in both English and Italian, I baptized a young man from Colombia in the Ionian Sea, and God did a lot in us too. In only one year, God gave us the privilege of seeing Him work in the lives of so many people. We consider it a true blessing and a joy.
During our support-raising season, when we told people how long we thought we would be in Italy, we would always say, “but at the end of the day, we will be there until the Lord takes us somewhere else.” This was never an opt-out clause in the contract. There was no contract. We have just learned in our young lives that we may plan our own way, but every step worth taking is one established by the Lord. So, when we began to sense the Lord doing a new work in our hearts, it got our attention. We have grown accustomed to hearing our Father’s voice. After all, John 10:27 says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” We didn’t fully understand what God was doing, but I guess that is where faith comes in. Feel free to call us sheep following our Shepherd.
We plan our way, the Lord establishes our steps.
We never expected to be back in the United States at this point in our journey, yet here we find ourselves. Over the next couple months we will be meeting with our ministry partner team and discerning what is next. We have some ideas as to what that might be, but the Lord has yet to establish that next step.
I find encouragement in Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” It is hard for our modern minds to understand this. I mean, we have huge spotlights and military grade flashlights that light up a mile in front of us. This was not the case when this psalm was written. Imagine walking down a dirt road with a candle lit near the tip of your toes. You would have just enough light to see where your foot was about to land. That is it. I don’t know about you, but I would prefer God shined a light on the next several years. Here are some questions you and I often ask. What job will I have? How many kids will I have? Will I own a home? Will I have the same friends, new friends, or both? Will I be married? Will I still be single? These are big life questions we all want to find answers to, and we want the answers now. Yet, that isn’t really how God works.
King David, in writing this psalm, is giving us some wise instruction, if we are willing to receive it. You might find yourself in a situation like us. It may not be exactly the same, but you are also looking for direction. You are praying and trying so hard to hear from God. You are ready. You are excited. You may even be a bit impatient (like me). Let us each reflect on Psalm 119:105. His Word is a light to our feet and a light to our path. Don’t run down to your local hardware store or Walmart looking for that military grade flashlight. Open the Word of God. Rest in His presence. Trust the placement of your feet and walk in obedience to Christ. You can’t see several steps ahead. But you aren’t meant to. Our gracious Father in heaven will reveal that in His perfect time.
Soon enough I will have another ministry placement. Soon enough the questions in my mind will become clearer. After all, it is the Lord establishing my steps. I pray that I keep the candle burning on the tips of my feet through faith in Jesus and obedience to His Word. I don’t know about you, but I am willing.
