It's Time

When the grain they had brought from Egypt was almost gone, Jacob said to his sons, "Go back and buy us a little more food." (Genesis 43:2 NLT)

Why do we always put off things we consider difficult until the very last moment.  We struggle inside.  "Is it really worth all that effort?  What if something goes wrong?  Is God really putting me through this?  Why won't God remove this struggle?!?"  We know what we need to do.  It's right in front of our face.  The step is there.  We won't budge.

The good news is that we aren't alone in those struggles.  Jacob struggled in this same way.  One of his son's was being held captive.  Another son was demanded.  He had already lost one son.  The one being demanded was the only other child by that mom.  Is one life worth more than another?  Why should I choose between which one is free and which one is a slave?  God, why are you doing this to me!

God wasn't doing anything bad to Jacob.  The enemy was having a field day with Jacob over potential outcomes, telling him, "If you do this, this will happen.  If you do this, this will happen."  The truth is, none of those scenarios was true.  The deceiver was doing what he does best...lying.  And Jacob struggled.  He struggled for a long time.

If we hadn't wasted all this time, we could have gone and returned twice by now."  (Genesis 43:10 NLT)

Finally, he faced the music.  Finally, he did what he had to do.  The food had run out.  They needed to buy some more.  The only one with food was the one he needed to face.  He sent his boys...all of them.  He did what he needed to do.  It was time.  Then God blessed their family.  Then God brought them together.  Then God provided for them in ways they couldn't begin to imagine.

Sometimes I think we don't realize that God really does work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)  Sometimes I think we don't really trust Him enough to find peace in all circumstances.  Sometimes we really need to be backed into a corner with no other move available before we will take that next step.  We don't realize that the results of that step may very well be completely different from any scenario we had imagined.  We don't realize that God has a plan to bless us and work together for our good.  We don't realize that the real "worse case scenario" is happening as we agonize over fake outcomes and avoid the step God has put right in front of us.

Has God put a step in front of you?

Take it.  It's time.