He Could Have Said “Forget It” Instead of “It Is Done”

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1 NKJV)

On Sunday evening I sit down with my calendar and make a list of what I have to accomplish during the coming week. Some items are not flexible, like making doctor appointments and attending work meetings. A few are part of my normal and necessary routine, such as doing laundry. But I do have the choice to put off a couple of things until the next week.

Such a dangerous game—putting things off. I’m a big procrastinator. When I’m up against a deadline, I often remind myself I had the opportunity to finish earlier. I’m not sure why I wait until the last minute. I wouldn’t describe myself as lazy or unmotivated. I would maybe describe myself as chaotic, an issue that comes up before I begin work on a project.

For example, I have a terrible time writing pieces I’ve committed to when other needs require my attention. It’s taken me over a week to write this post. The words have been floating in my brain for hours each day, but until today, after the laundry was started and the floor mopped, I just couldn’t make myself write. By making sure other things are done first, I think, I can focus a little better on the words I need to share.

However, my procrastination is starting to feel out of control. I’m not feeling fulfilled; I’m feeling anxious. The first step to fixing a problem is admitting you have one. But I justify my excuses, and at the end of the day, they are still only excuses. I must find a way to overcome the procrastination I’ve perfected. I must set aside time to write—regardless of what else needs to be done.

This is exactly what I had to do when I realized Jesus was willing to give me all of himself and I was willing to share nothing. I had to sit down and make out a written schedule of time with him. I had to make a calendar to prioritize reading the Bible, spending time meditating in prayer, and reflecting on the direction of my life. I had to make the choice to be with Jesus each day, no excuses. He never made any excuses, so I feel like I have no right to make them either. When it came to our salvation, he could have said, “Forget it” instead of  “It is done.” He could have asked his Father to put off his sacrifice until tomorrow because he had something else he needed to tend to. He could have put off raising Lazarus, or talking to the woman at the well, or his last supper.

I was so ashamed at my ignorance, my procrastination. I learned at a young age the importance of moving when the Holy Spirit says move. I knew as a child Jesus was real, not just a nice man who did good things. He was God in the flesh. The Holy Spirit nudged me every day to move forward to Christ, yet I kept putting it off until tomorrow, treated those whispers as though they were fleeting thoughts. When I finally realized how foolish I’d been, I fell to my knees, then on my face. Where I thought I would feel deep remorse and guilt, instead I felt joy and peace rushing into my soul.

I felt like I belonged. I felt whole again. I reveled in the way I was feeling not just emotionally, but physically and spiritually. My problems didn’t all magically go away—my mortgage wasn’t mysteriously paid off, my car still made that funny sound, and the teenagers were still fighting. However, I was different in the very core of my soul. I made the choice to stop putting off what I had needed all along.

We don’t know whether each of our lives here will end because we die or because Jesus returns. But either way, they will end. Jesus won’t change his plans because we’ve procrastinated. He won’t wait for the sake of anyone who wants to finish checking off the items on their list.

There is a Savior who loves us all very much, and if you’re still waiting for perfection in your life or for the items on some list to be finished before following him, stop. Turn to him and let him guide your path, let him heal your spirit. [Tweet “Let Jesus be the choice you make today, not the choice you put off until tomorrow.”]

Angie Dailey lives in rural Ohio with her husband and family. She spends her best and most important time with the Creator of the Universe and with her family. She loves coffee, Jesus, and gardening, but not necessarily in that order. Angie blogs at angiedailey.com.