The Next Faithful Step
By Emma Wilson, Fellows Class of 2026
Decision paralysis is best described as the inability to make a choice due to being overwhelmed by too many options, fear of choosing incorrectly, or perfectionism. The spiral often begins here: an abundance of options creates fear of the wrong choice, igniting anxiety over a perfect outcome, and leads to a state of inaction—“Paralysis by analysis.” If left unnoticed, this diagnosis tempts us to succumb to stillness. And like many before me, I began to notice this pattern of thinking all too well. Facing my postgraduate plans, I felt its grip as my vision suddenly narrowed to a tunnel.
Regardless of where I went or what I did, I wanted to be found faithful. Yet what began as a good desire risked becoming an idol when faithful submission replaced genuine trust. Here, my longing to honor God quietly morphed into an anxious need to get everything “right,” as if His favor depended on my flawless obedience rather than His unwavering grace. Instead of remembering the promise that, “the LORD himself goes before you and will be with you” (Deut. 31:8; NIV), I tried to hold so tightly onto the things I never had control over. It was a diagnosis of the heart: I was in search of a doctor who would tell me where to go. And this condition remained until I first heard the phrase “the next faithful step.”
Little did I know at the time how this short, four-word phrase would shape the remainder of my senior year and my steps after graduation. Faithfulness, by this measure, meant consistently submitting every small step to God. It was here I was invited into something greater: to learn what it looks like to trust the Almighty, laying my fears and anxiety at His feet.
“As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.” (Psalm 40:17; ESV)
When I am at my most desperate, the Lord takes thought of me. When I am paralyzed by decisions, He is my help and my deliverer, faithfully guiding my next steps. These words have remained an Ebenezer of truth, a constant reminder in every decision I face. I am here in Chattanooga because I filled out an application. Because I spoke with faithful leaders in this city. And because, ultimately, I felt led to answer the call to go.
Yet when thinking about the future, my mind so often drifts into the anxious abyss. How long will I stay here? Which opportunities should I pursue, and which should I let pass? How can I step forward faithfully without knowing the outcome? To these, I may never know the answers. However, one thing I can know for certain is how to take the next faithful step.
“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” (Jer. 29:7; ESV)
In stepping forward, I am learning that faithful action is not just about avoiding paralysis—it is about seeking God’s good in the place where He has planted me.