The next right thing

Written by Sydney Wilson
Published on January 07, 2022

“Just do the next right thing. Take a step, step again. It is all that I can do. The next right thing. I won’t look too far ahead. It’s too much for me to take. But break it down to this next breath, this next step. This next choice is one that I can make. So I’ll walk through this night. Stumbling blindly toward the light. And do the next right thing” (Anna, Frozen 2). 

Often, on the car ride to school I learn something. Ellie and I always have songs going, and it’s usually whatever she decides on to get her excited to go into school that day. Today, she wasn’t so excited because we got outside and it was cold

To her, it was “so freezing.” 

So, I quickly ran inside to get her Elsa blanket so it would cheer her up, and she didn’t continue frazzled on the way to school. I turned the heat up, which she insisted was not working, and off we went. 

A shift of attitude

As we were riding and she hadn’t warmed up yet, I started trying to entertain her by singing “Let It Go” in my most Elsa voice possible and she eventually started laughing. Finally, thankfully, my phone loaded and Amazon Music came through with the real version of the song. 

Ellie sang and quickly cheered up as Amazon continued to play other Frozen songs following “Let It Go.” 

Little did I know, Anna would speak to me after drop off in the car rider line at Kindergarten. I didn’t realize the Disney songs were still going as I was decompressing from the rush to the blue hall, but then I heard some sweet lyrics. Above, you see the words to the song “The Next Right Thing.” 

Kristen Bell’s voice is calming, sweet, and strong as Anna gets up to do the next right thing when she feels unable. 

God shows up

Want some truth? I feel unable. I feel overwhelmed with the idea that there are so many more things out of my control than in my control in this current season of life. 

I feel like taking steps forward and stumbling blindly shouldn’t hold hands with each other and walk together. I feel like putting my life, my children’s lives, in the hands of the unknown is something that is foolish and unbelievable. 

I feel like the next right thing isn’t right at all—because “right” doesn’t feel like this. But then God—

God shows up. 

He shows up in the lives of my family, my best friend, my kids, my church family, songs on the radio, and the breath of his word. On multiple occasions this week, I was sent verses from sweet people praying for the hard road being walked this week. 

On two of those occasions I was sent Colossians 1:17. “He is before all things and in him all things hold together” (NIV). 

He is the next right thing. He goes before the blind stumbling, and he already holds the future in his hand, together. 

It doesn’t make it easy, but it makes it possible. 

Overwhelmed does not mean overcome

So while I was feeling one way, what I know is bigger. I know that I am able. I know that overwhelmed does not mean overcome. I know that my blind, stumbling steps forward are those in faith. 

I know that God is all-knowing and believable. I know that he went before this, and he holds this together. So, I know I can just keep doing the next right thing. Not the 10 next right things, but just the one, next right thing. 

Just like the song says, I will break it down to this next breath and this next step and I will recall what I know. I know he went before me, and he holds it all together. 

I can be confident that none of my circumstances come as a surprise. I’ll repeat—It doesn’t make it easy, but it makes it possible. 


Consider a few extra resources:

Hindering hurt, rendering hope

God understands and cares

Changed by our children: God’s plans in our parenting

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Sydney Wilson

Sydney is a Mississippi native and the mother of two toddlers: Eloise and Wilson. She is a special education teacher and a graduate of Mississippi State University with a Masters degree in Mild and Moderate Disabilities. Sydney began writing in the midst of life changes in 2020 and strives to give hope to people through Jesus in the midst of their own changes, losses, or discouragement.

Read more about Sydney

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