March 23, 2026
Just the Next Step
LYSA TERKEURST
Lee en español
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
Editor’s Note: Don’t skip a single day this week. From March 23-27, each devotion includes a never-before-seen excerpt from Lysa TerKeurst’s first prayer book, Come Close to Jesus. Trust us — you’ll want to read every one.
God is teaching me so much about really trusting Him. Fully. Completely. Wholeheartedly.
Though the path I’m on may feel uncertain, He’s faithful to shed just enough light for me to see the very next step. And this isn’t Him being mysterious — this is a great demonstration of His mercy. Instead of bombarding Him with my suggestions or projections, clenching my fists, and reaching for control, I simply need to embrace and obey the very next thing He shows me. And then the next.
That’s what it means to truly “trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).
Because here’s what I know about myself: If God showed me too much revelation through an exact blueprint of where I’m headed, I might panic if His plan didn’t match what I desperately want. Or I might be tempted to take control and make things happen on my own.
On the flip side, if He showed me too little, never revealing Himself or His guidance, I’d be paralyzed with the thought that He’d abandoned me.
But in His kindness, God gives each of us just enough revelation to keep going today — an invitation from Him to be fully obedient to Him right now. When I read scriptures like Proverbs 3:5-6, I can feel His prodding in my heart: Lysa, are you being obedient to Me in this?
Or as I listen to wise counsel, I am challenged: Lysa, are you willing to implement what is being suggested to you in this situation?
Often my confusion isn’t because God is being mysterious; it’s because I’m not being obedient. As I enter this brand-new day, I’m seeking Him rather than trying to figure out His plan. Instead of filling the gaps of the unknown with my suggestions to God, I’m placing my trust in Him.
We don’t have to know it all to trust Him completely. We can take it one day at a time. One step at a time. One act of obedience at a time. One sliver of light at a time.
El Shaddai, God Almighty, I want to trust You fully, wholeheartedly, with everything. But You know this can wage war with my desire to be certain, to understand, and to control. It feels like there are too many unknowns in my life, but thank You that You are constant, the same yesterday, today, and forever. You know I have dreams, desires, and hopes for my future. Often I want to run ahead of You and make all these happen. But I don’t want to lean on my own understanding; I want to lean on You. I know the best place to be is in Your will. I can count on You to guide me, revealing one step at a time. Whether it’s a small step or a big one, help me to obey. I know each step of obedience increases my faith in You. I want to be someone who lives every day in step with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
P.S. Mark your calendar for Holy Week (March 29-April 5). For eight days, we’ll pause together to steady our hearts in the finished work of Jesus — one scripture and one quiet reminder at a time.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
There are moments when your heart wants to pray but your mind feels crowded, and the words just won’t come. If that sounds familiar, it’s because prayer — the very place we draw near to God — can start to feel complicated in real life. But when you give to Proverbs 31 Ministries, you help another woman just like you to receive biblical comfort and prayer-filled encouragement that meets her in the most desperate and dark moments. Through resources like Encouragement for Today Devotions and Come Close to Jesus, women are reminded that they don’t need perfect words to come to God — they just need to come. When you give today, you help place Scripture and prayer into another woman’s hardest moments, and as our thank-you, you’ll receive Come Close to Jesus to support your own prayer life too.
ENGAGE
Find everyday encouragement when you connect with Lysa TerKeurst here on Instagram.
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Proverbs 20:24, “A person’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand their own way?” (NIV).
What’s your greatest struggle in trusting the Lord with the path you’re on or a situation you’re facing? How can you trust Him with your next step? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.
© 2026 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
