It is amazing to me how often I say, “It’s too late.”
There are many times as a leader of churches I have had to say “I waited too long to correct this, it’s too late now.” I usually have feelings of ominous despair that follow these conclusions. I am working on an area of the church I lead now and frankly I have waited too long. I have messed up. I hope not badly. But I could have. I have this feeling, “It could be too late.”
I had occasions as a parent that I missed things in my children’s development. Or I just didn’t give the time I wish I should have with them. And the thought comes, “It’s too late.” I have ideas for my life that show up from time to time and I am now at the age where many of these things are just “too late” in coming to me.
I applied for a doctorate degree at a major university in Sociology about ten years ago. The rejection was worded nicely but inadequately for me so I called for further explanation. And in a kind careful way I was told I was too old. “It was too late.”
Anxiety follows the discovery that you are too late. The Bible is loaded with warnings about fear. One of my favorite chapters to read is Joshua chapter one when the “what if” – “it’s too late demon comes.” I am convinced that fear and anxiety limit God’s work in our lives like nothing else. Addictions thrive off of the energy that comes from anxiety. The addictive behavior becomes a relief from anxiety most of the time.
It struck me this morning that sure, ”It appears too late.“ But if one has faith, ”It never is too late.“ It might be a time for extraordinary measures, a little extra prayer, a pause to realize everything requires a miracle to be fulfilled and being “loo late” can be one of the greatest motivators you will experience.
