There is something comforting about knowing you do not have to figure out the whole journey today.
After Jesus had been crucified, buried, and resurrected, He appeared to His disciples many times over the next forty days. Acts 1:3 tells us that He proved to them in many ways that He was truly alive and talked with them about the Kingdom of God.
Then came one final conversation.
Jesus told them,
“Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift He promised, as I told you before.” (Acts 1:4)
He was speaking about the Holy Spirit. A few verses later He told them they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them and that they would be His witnesses everywhere.
But what stands out to me is what Jesus did not tell them.
He did not tell them when the Holy Spirit would come. He did not explain exactly what it would look like or how long they would have to wait.
He simply said, “Don’t leave Jerusalem.”
After giving them these instructions, Jesus was taken up into heaven. The Bible says the disciples strained to see Him as He rose.
Then suddenly two angels appeared.
“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven?” (Acts 1:11)
I love that question.
In other words, “Why are you still standing here? He already told you what to do.”
Last night I was reminded of this in a completely different setting.
I coach a junior high volleyball team. We have a few returning players, but we also have girls who are newer to our team and some who are newer to volleyball altogether. Last night we played a much more experienced team.
It was a rough game.
Afterward, my daughter was really upset. She’s a hard worker. She has a lot of energy, she hustles, and she takes the game seriously.
I asked her, “What upset you the most?”
She said, “I felt like I was working really hard and some people were just standing around.”
And if I’m being truthful, I understood what she meant. It wasn’t our best game.
But the more I thought about what she said, the more I realized how often I do the same thing in my own life.
I look around.
Why isn’t this person doing more? Why isn’t that person helping? Why aren’t they moving as quickly as I am?
And meanwhile, I’m spending so much time looking around that I can forget the only thing I actually have control over.
My next step.
Maybe that’s part of what I love about the angels’ question.
“Why are you standing here staring into heaven?”
Jesus had already given them instructions. They didn’t need to understand the entire plan. They simply needed to do what He had told them to do next.
Sometimes we get stuck because we’re looking around.
Other times we get stuck because we’re looking too far ahead.
Either way, we’re not moving.
Recently I’ve been planning a fun run fundraiser for a ministry I love in Guatemala. When I started, I had no idea what I was doing. There were permits, registration, insurance, shirts, volunteers, donations, and plenty of other details I hadn’t even thought about yet.
So instead of figuring out the entire event, I asked myself one question.
What’s the next step?
Choose a location.
That was it.
Then I could take the next step.
Maybe you’re trying to get your finances together. Maybe you’re trying to read your Bible more consistently, repair a relationship, get healthier, start something new, or finally do something God has been putting on your heart.
You don’t need the whole blueprint.
You just need the next step.
Back in 2021, I ran a marathon. Probably my first and my last. People have asked me how I managed to run 26.2 miles. The truth is, I didn’t run 26.2 miles all at once.
I took one step.
Then another.
Then another.
Somewhere around 50,000 steps later, I crossed the finish line. That’s how we get somewhere that once seemed impossible.
I recently read Stephen Furtick’s book Do the New You, and one idea really stayed with me. You don’t have to rush to become the finished version of yourself. Just do the next thing. Make the next right decision.
That’s exactly what the disciples did. Acts 1:12 says they returned to Jerusalem. That was their next step.
Then they gathered together in prayer. That was their next step.
Then they replaced Judas. That was their next step.
They didn’t know exactly what was coming. They simply obeyed the instruction they had already been given. Sometimes we’re asking God to reveal step twenty while we’re still standing at step one. Maybe today you’re waiting for clarity. Maybe you’re waiting until you feel ready.Maybe you’re looking around at what everyone else is doing, or not doing. Maybe you’re looking so far down the road that the distance feels impossible.
But let me encourage you: You don’t have to run the whole marathon today. You don’t have to fix the whole team. You don’t have to understand the whole plan.
Just ask:
What is my next step?
And then take it. One step. Then another. Then another.
That’s how we move toward the places God is leading us.
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