Hesitation

When Lot still hesitated,
the angels seized his hand
and the hands of his wife and two daughters
and rushed them to safety outside the city,
for the LORD was merciful.
Genesis 19:16 NLT
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Sometimes, the hardest part about making a big life change is just the first step. Or maybe that’s ALWAYS the hardest part… I’m not sure. I don’t even think it’s accurate to call it a “first step” because you have to take that first step over and over and over again for a loooooooooooooong time in order for it to become a successful life change.

It’s hard because it’s scary. It’s hard because it’s significant. It’s hard because it’s new. I could go on and on… It’s hard because you know how far the first step is from the last step.

And people will tell you it’s easier if you just look at it as one step at a time. But what if – for whatever reason – that first step is still nearly impossible to take? What if “easier” or will power isn’t enough when it comes to actually doing it?

I read through Lot’s story this week in Genesis. Lot had to make a life change. God sent angels to warn him that he and his family should leave their home because the city he was living in was going to be destroyed. He had to take a LITERAL first step away from the community that he had built a life in. And, even with the knowledge that it was “run away or die” he still froze up at the moment of step one.

When it came down to a life-saving action, no amount of will power or preparation gave him the strength to take that first step. So what happened? Did God leave him to burn with Sodom & Gomorrah?

Nope – check it out:

At dawn the next morning the angels became insistent. ‘Hurry.’ they said to Lot. ‘Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Get out of here right now, or you will be caught in the destruction of the city.’ When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the LORD was merciful. (Gensis 19:15-16 NLT)

When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand. God didn’t leave Lot alone in his moment of need; he held him by the hand and pulled him through the tough stuff. And God won’t leave us alone in our moment of need. If the path is within God’s will to cross, God will help us do it – even if it takes a little push, pull or shove to get us started. 🙂

So, where in my life right now am I hesitating when God is clearly telling me to get movin’? Can I ask God to give me the will power, strength or shove to do it?

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Dear Lord, I can’t even begin to count the times I’ve let my thoughts, fears and failures get in the way of changes I want to make. My will is weak and I need your hand. The next time I hesitate, take my hand and deliver me from anything that would separate me from you. And, actually, can you just keep holding my hand even when my will is strong? It’s really better that way. Amen.