One of the things we know but forget to take into account is that we live in an imperfect world. Yet somehow we still look for the perfect in it. We look for the perfect situation financially so we can give. We look for the perfect schedule to help someone, or even the perfect situation to begin something new. We say, “If I had more money, a better schedule or all my ducks in a row then I would…” Those are excuses to delay while you wait on everything to be perfect. The problem is that perfect never comes and we’re left sitting on the starting line with a lifetime of would’ve, could’ve should’ve. The hardest steps in doing anything is always the first. After that, you have momentum helping you.
In the book of Ezra, the Israelites were in captivity in Persia where they had been for decades. In the first year of the new king’s reign, God put it on his heart to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem that the previous king tore down. God stirred the hearts of many leaders and priests to return. Even though they had the backing of the king, they were afraid of the locals as they rebuilt the altar first. This fear of others and the felling that the timing wasn’t right caused a two year delay before they began to work on the foundation. When they completed the foundation, their enemies showed up, but because they had momentum, they rejected their enemies and started building. Then in Zachariah 4:10 the Lord said, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand” (NLT). God rejoices when we begin doing things for Him, no matter how small a step we take.
Ecclesiastes 11:4 says, “If you wait until the wind and the weather are just right, you will never plant anything and never harvest anything” (GNT). There will never be perfect conditions to do what God has called you to. There will never be enough time, enough money or enough support from others to get started. The enemy uses this “logical” thinking to keep so many Christians standing on the starting line without ever beginning the work God has given them. Don’t take a ready, set, go approach to doing what God has laid on your heart. Instead take a go, set, ready approach. The Lord rejoices to see you begin. Everything that has ever been done for the Lord started with one small step of faith. They didn’t have the perfect conditions either. The difference is they didn’t let fear stop them. They took a step and planted seeds with imperfect conditions. It’s your turn to take that step.
Photo by Ricardo IV Tamayo on Unsplash
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 