SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST DEVOTIONAL FOR CHILDREN: “The Next Right Thing”

*DAILY BREAD: A DEVOTIONAL FOR THE CHILDREN*

Eastern Nigeria Union Conference Children’s Ministries Department

*THEME: I WILL GO*

Sunday, December 19, 2021

Topic: The Next Right Thing

“ _You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20_

Life can be pretty disappointing sometimes. Plans can change in a split second. Things we took for granted are suddenly taken away and everything seems new and uncertain. Have you felt like this lately? School may have been different for you this year. The way you hung out with your friends was different. You may have felt scared. In the middle of all this change, you may be wondering “What next?” Joseph could relate. He really went through some horrible changes. He was beaten up, thrown in a well, and then sold into slavery by his own brothers! What next?
Have you heard the song from Disney’s Frozen II, “The Next Right Thing”? The singer, Anna, had lost her sister and her closest friends and felt crushed by the loss. She could not look too far ahead, but she realized she COULD do the next right thing that was in front of her. Joseph could have sung this song. Throughout the rest of Joseph’s amazing story (found in Genesis 39 and following), Joseph made the most of every situation that he found himself in, no matter how scary. He chose to look for the opportunities God gave him to do His will. Through those small choices, Joseph rose to a job in which he was able to save his entire family. Once he met his brothers again, Joseph was able to see God’s plan at work. He told his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20).
When you go through troubles, God is still with you. He is working out a plan that you might not be able to see, but he will place small opportunities in your path to do His will. It is in those small choices to do the next right thing that God works big things.

*Song*
Come, ye disconsolate, where’er ye languish.
come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel.
Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish;
earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.

Joy of the desolate, light of the straying,
hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure!
Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying,
“Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot cure.”
Here see the bread of life; see waters flowing
forth from the throne of God, pure from above.
Come to the feast of love; come, ever knowing
earth has no sorrow but heaven can remove.

*Prayer*
Dear Jesus, even when life seems uncertain and disappointing, help me to always be on the lookout for the next right thing that you will have for me to do. I am sorry for the times I missed the chances you gave me. Give me your eyes to see the people right in front of me who need your help. In Your Name, Amen.