Not Now

The best leaders often struggle with vision. It’s not that they don’t know what to do, it’s when to do it that proposes the biggest challenge. Strong leaders are compelled to act NOW! They can be fully persuaded to do something, but timing leaves a huge question mark.

In Acts 16:6, Paul feels an urgency to go into the Asian provinces to preach the gospel but is forbidden by the Holy Spirit. There is a wide-open door to go, yet he senses a hesitancy. So, Paul cancels the trip. Eventually, he arrives at Ephesus and settles there to plant a church.

Two years into establishing the church in Ephesus, Acts 19:10 says, “ALL the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord.” Approximately four years pass from the time Paul first feels compelled to take the Gospel into Asia to when the entire Asian world has heard the Gospel.

This indicates 2 possible scenarios:

1. The school hall in Ephesus, where the church met, was Paul’s headquarters for his journeys into Asia. Often, the plan is right, but the place is wrong. God wants to position you in the right spot to launch the vision.

2. The number of local Asian converts constantly increased and thus comprised a majority of the church at Ephesus. God may be preventing you from pursing the goal, because He wants the goal to pursue you. 

Leader: God may not be saying, “No.” He may simply be saying, “Not now.”

“For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.” (Habakkuk 2:3 ESV)