There is only one thing for us to do, and that is to do our

Hear the timeless wisdom of Orison Swett Marden, a great voice of inspiration in the age of industry and self-reliance, who declared: “There is only one thing for us to do, and that is to do our level best right where we are every day of our lives; to use our best judgment, and then to trust the rest to that Power which holds the forces of the universe in His hands.” In this saying is contained the essence of noble living: diligence, discernment, and faith. For man is called not to idleness, nor to despair, but to steady labor and humble trust in the Higher Will that governs all.

The meaning of these words is layered and profound. Marden teaches that our first duty is to exert ourselves fully in the present, to give our level best wherever we stand. Greatness is not found in daydreams of distant tomorrows, but in the faithful execution of today’s task. Second, we must exercise our judgment, not rushing blindly, but using reason, wisdom, and conscience to choose our path. Finally, he calls us to trust—to release what lies beyond our power into the care of the divine Power that governs the cosmos. For no man, however wise or diligent, can control the outcome of all things. There is peace in laboring faithfully, choosing wisely, and entrusting the rest to Heaven.

The origin of this wisdom comes from Marden’s own life. Born in hardship, orphaned at a young age, and working his way up from poverty, he became one of the founders of the modern self-help movement in America. His life was proof of the creed he proclaimed. He could not control the tragedies that struck him, but he resolved each day to do his best with what lay before him. He used his judgment to guide his choices in education and enterprise. And above all, he maintained faith in a higher Power that gave meaning and order to existence. Out of this creed, he rose to inspire millions with his words.

History provides many examples of this principle. Think of Abraham Lincoln, who in the darkest days of the American Civil War confessed that he did not know what the future held, but that his duty was to labor faithfully each day. He used his judgment to navigate impossible dilemmas, and then, beyond that, he entrusted the fate of the Union to Providence. His greatness was not in controlling every outcome, but in giving his level best and leaving the rest to the higher order of things. By such humility and steadfastness, he preserved a nation.

So too did Mahatma Gandhi embody this truth. Facing the mighty empire of Britain with nothing but courage and principle, he did not know whether his efforts would succeed. But each day, he did his best, making choices grounded in conscience, and entrusting the larger struggle to divine justice. In the end, his steady, faithful labor brought forth the liberation of his people. His life was a living parable of Marden’s words: labor daily, choose wisely, and trust what you cannot control to the Higher Power.

The lesson for us is plain: do not be paralyzed by the vastness of life, nor by the weight of tomorrow’s uncertainties. Your task is not to rule the universe, but to labor faithfully where you stand. Do your level best today, in your work, in your family, in your duties, however small they may seem. Exercise judgment in your choices, guided by wisdom and morality. And then, let go of fear, for the rest lies in the hands of the eternal Power who governs what no mortal can.

Therefore, beloved listener, cultivate diligence, wisdom, and faith. Begin each day resolved to labor with excellence. When decisions arise, weigh them with honesty and courage. And when you have done all that is within your power, surrender the remainder with trust, knowing that the universe is not chaos, but order, held in divine hands. In this balance, you will find both strength and peace.

So remember the eternal wisdom of Orison Swett Marden: “Do your level best, use your judgment, and trust the rest to the Power of the universe.” In this way you shall live without regret, for you will have done all that man can do, and left the rest to the One who governs the stars.