The Right Moment May Never Come


We like phrases like, "when the moment is right." Carpe Diem type phrases can be great rallying cries. Here's the problem. The moment may not ever be perfect. Ecclesiastes uses farming to illustrate this. If the farmer is looking for the conditions to be just right then he will never plant his crops. The conditions could always be better. Likewise, if he waits to harvest based on conditions he may miss his harvest, and lose his crop. The author writes it like this;

"If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done." Ecclesiastes 11:4.

It will never be the perfect moment to do anything. Life on earth is simply filled with too many variables and imperfections. Sure we want to exercise wisdom, and do our best. The call is not one to haphazardly live with no plans beyond today. Yet, if we linger in an effort to see everything come together then we may end up lingering for the rest of our lives. Sometimes you just have to jump. That's where faith comes in. We do all we can and then trust our Father.

This is no guarantee that everything will work out. Sometimes our plans fail. We're people. We make mistakes. Just because God is working everything together for good doesn't mean everything is always going to go the way I hoped it would. He sees a much bigger picture than we can.

Most of the ministers I know began their ministries with a leap of faith. Most small business owners one day decided "this is it, I'm doing it." Most great marriages began with some nervous guy asking a beautiful girl if she wanted to go get a pizza. Sometimes you just have to go for it, because sometimes just going for it is one of the most spiritual things you can do.

Following the Son,

James A Williams

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I Had What I Needed Today. I Always Do.

Image
Where’s the checkbook? I had searched high and low, and hadn’t been able to locate one. We rarely use checks for anything anymore, but I found myself in need of one. With my wife out of town I had called for some help. Sarai described to me where I would find them. In a red bag on top of a yellow bag under some sweaters beside the hamper in the spare bedroom. You may wonder why this is where we keep our checkbook. I may wonder why this is where we keep our checkbook. But after 28 years of marriage I’ve learned to not ask too many questions, and to stick primarily to nodding and smiling. I told her I loved her, followed the instructions, and soon had the checkbook in hand. Hmm? Next to the checkbook was a small blue folder that I immediately recognized. It’s where we keep our passports. I was a little surprised to find it here, because my wife was in Puerto Rico. You don’t need a passport to go to Puerto Rico, but my wife almost always carries hers with her when she travels. I
Read more

It’s My Turn To Be The Pop

Image
“ Children's children are a crown.” Proverbs 17:6 One year ago today my phone rang. I was looking forward to this call. “Hey, Dad. How are you?” “I’m alright.” (Standard response) He wasn’t alright. The cancer, chemo, and treatments had taken such a toll on him. This was Josiah’s birthday though. His first birthday. My Dad always called everyone in the family on their birthday and sang to them. He never missed anyone’s. It wasn’t pretty, and became a comical family joke yet we all looked forward to it.  I called for my son, Nathaniel, who brought his son, Josiah, over to the phone. I held the phone to Josiah’s ear and Nathaniel and I pressed in as we all listened to Dad sing. His voice was raspy and labored. Josiah’s eyes danced. Nathaniel and I smiled and laughed. Tears filled my eyes. He couldn’t stay on the phone long. He tired quickly and speaking was difficult. Josiah’s first time hearing his great grandfather sing Happy Birthday would also be his la
Read more

Christmas Reactions: A Look At The Responses To Jesus' Birth

Image
The reactions of children on Christmas morning can be priceless. The way their faces light up in response to the gifts, decorations, and lights communicates such wonder and awe. I have a grandson who is closing in on two. Sometimes when he sees things he literally gasps. So much of the world is still new to him. Just as I love a child's reaction, I love the reactions in the Christmas story to those who encountered the Christ child. The Bible uses specific words to describe many of the responses to seeing a baby unlike one they'd ever seen before, and the events surrounding his birth. Consider a few with me. Mary, " treasured ." (Luke 2:19) Mary so valued what was taking place that she "kept it in her heart." She would never forget these moments, and no doubt would draw strength from them later. Joseph, " marveled ." (Luke 2:33) From the beginning it had been too much to take in. He couldn't really wrap his brain around the m
Read more