The "Eventually" Trap: When God's "Now" Meets Our "Later

   

 As a parent I think we all have had this common experience. You ask your kids to do something simple – put away their shoes, clear their plates – and you get a cheerful, "Okay, I will!" Any experienced parent knows not to get their hopes up. Because fast forward an hour (or three), and you discover the task remains untouched. Then you begin to hear the excuses and reasons why the simple task was left undone. 

    As a bus monitor, I see this play out daily. The rules are clear: "Sit down properly," "Stay in your seat while the bus is moving." It's not a mystery, and by this point in the school year, it shouldn't be a challenge. I mean we are not talking rocket science, right? Yet, the wiggles, the wandering, the outright refusal to comply persist. It's not a lack of understanding; it's a failure to obey, a resistance to immediate action.

    But before we cast too many stones at these minor's, let's take a long, hard look in the mirror. How often does God whisper a direction, illuminate a passage of Scripture, or nudge us through the Holy Spirit, and our response echoes that of a foot-dragging child?  Ouch right? We acknowledge the instruction, perhaps even intend to follow through, but then… life happens. Distractions arise. We become overwhelmed with the busyness of life and fail to actually follow through. We find seemingly more pressing matters all around us. Like our kids who are to busy playing a video game to pick up their dirty clothes. We can allow hours, days, even weeks to pass, and the task God laid on our hearts remains undone. Our attention was divided, and our priorities misallied. 

    There is an important truth in all of this, delayed obedience is disobedience. It's not a milder form; it's the same refusal dressed in the cloak of procrastination. We rationalize, we negotiate, we tell ourselves, "I'll get to it… eventually." But in God's economy, "eventually" often misses the divine appointment of "now."

    Consider the biblical account of Noah. God gave him a monumental task: build an ark to save his family from a coming flood (Genesis 6). Imagine the sheer scale of the undertaking this is a little bit bigger of a task than cleaning your room. Can you imagine the ridicule he must have faced. 

    Yet there's no record of Noah debating the logistics, questioning the timeline, or suggesting a smaller boat might suffice. Hebrews 11:7 states, "By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith" (ESV). Noah's obedience, though undoubtedly challenging, was immediate and unwavering. The survival of humanity hinged on his prompt action. Noah did not have time to get distracted or put off this massive building project to another time. 

    Look at Abraham being commanded to sacrifice his only son, Isaac (Genesis 22). The emotional weight of this request is almost unbearable to contemplate. The command itself causes us to want to recoil and resist. What God was asking Abraham to do did not seem to make since. 

    Yet, the Scripture records Abraham's immediate preparation: "So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him" (Genesis 22:3, ESV). While God ultimately, and thankfully intervened, Abraham's willingness to obey without delay is a powerful testament to his faith.  

    Martin Luther's once said "A true believer will crucify the question Why, He will obey without question," Our human tendency is to analyze, to dissect, to understand the "why" behind God's instructions. This is especially true in matters where what God is asking us to do goes against the very grain of our human nature. 

    While seeking understanding can be valuable, it should never become a roadblock to our complete and swift obedience. God's wisdom transcends our limited perspective. Our task is not to fully comprehend the mind of God and all of His ways. Instead our task is to faithfully place our complete trust in Him and respond in faithful obedience. 

    Listen to the  Psalmist's words in Psalm 119:59-60  

"When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments" (ESV). 

There's an urgency in the psalmist's declaration, a recognition that hesitation can lead to disobedience. He doesn't ponder endlessly; he turns and hastens.

    The "eventually" trap is a subtle but dangerous one. It is not just a trap that our children fall victim to. It s something that we are all guilty of and susceptible to. It lulls us into a false sense of good intentions while allowing us to remain stagnant. It whispers that later will do, that we have time, that our reasons for delay are valid and reasonable. But in the light of God's call, our "whys" and "why nots" often pale in comparison to the simple, powerful act of obedience.

This week, let's examine our hearts. Where has God spoken, and we've responded with a mental "I'll get to it later"? Let's strive to move beyond the "eventually" and embrace the blessing of immediate faithful obedience to God and His word.

Here are a few practical ways to consider this in your own life:

1. Identify Your "Delayed" List: Take some time this week to prayerfully consider areas where you know God has prompted you to action but you've been putting it off.
1.  Perhaps it is setting aside a time for prayer, or read your devotional. It maybe something you feel the Holy Spirit is leading you to do, like taking time to encourage someone. What ever it is take time to identify it and write it down. 
2. Pray for Clarity and Courage: For each item on your list, ask God for renewed clarity on His will and the courage to obey promptly.
1.  Sometimes, the delay stems from uncertainty or fear.  Identify the reasons why you have delayed your obedience and ask God to help you overcome those obstacles. 
3. Take One Step Today: Choose one item from your list and commit to taking at least one concrete step towards obedience this week. 
1. Even a small act of obedience can break the cycle of delay and build momentum in your spiritual walk with God.