Enough Light for the Next Step
Often we want to be able to see into the future. We say, “How will next year be for me? Where will I be five or ten years from now?” There are no answers to these questions. Mostly we have just enough light to see the next step: what we have to do in the coming hour or the following day.
The art of living is to enjoy what we can see and not complain about what remains in the dark. When we are able to take the next step with the trust that we will have enough light for the step that follows, we can walk through life with joy and be surprised at how far we go.
Let’s rejoice in the little light we carry and not ask for the great beam that would take all shadows away.
—Brennan Manning, Reflections for Ragamuffins
We all long to know what’s ahead—especially when life feels uncertain or overwhelming. But as Henri Nouwen reminds us, God rarely lights the whole road at once. Instead, He gives us just enough light for the next step. That might feel frustrating when we’re desperate for clarity, but it’s also how trust is formed—step by step, moment by moment.
Faith isn’t about seeing the full map; it’s about believing there is one, even when all we can see is the next stone on the path. So today, instead of worrying about five years from now—or even five days from now—ask God for the courage to take the next step. His light may feel small, but it’s enough. And it will be there again when you need it. —DH
—David Hoskins, Founder & Care Guide, Sanctuary Clinics