The Right Time Is Now

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

The Older Crowd

Have you ever felt like you needed to wait until you become a little older to serve as a leader? Or maybe you have looked up to people who are older than you and thought, I cannot wait to live boldly and make a difference like they do when I am that age. I know that I have personally looked up to role models of mine and thought that once I was the age they are, then I could make more of an impact as they do.

But something so beautiful that I have realized is that God made me to be a light for His glory, lead in His love, encourage in His truth, speak up to protect the weak, be a peacemaker, and walk closely with Him today. Looking up to those who are further ahead in the journey than I am is so good—healthy even. But God did not intend for me to use those people as an excuse to wait until I am older to start living the life He has called me to live. Rather, He intended to use that example to inspire and sharpen me to be who He has called me to be today.

The time of His favor is right now. From the very beginning, God called us personally and anointed us to let our lights shine (Matthew 5:16).

God Can Use You

God has blessed each of us with purposeful and original gifts. He doesn’t want to waste time and only use us when we’re teenagers, high-school graduates, married, or retired. Just think! God called David to defeat Goliath and had Samuel anoint him as the future king of Israel when he was just a young shepherd boy. He said of David, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Esther was a young girl when God called her to be a vessel of His mighty glory and to save His people as the queen. Mary was a teenager when God anointed her to be the mother of Jesus Christ Himself. The King of kings doesn’t see our age as a limiting factor but, rather, a shining force for His name’s sake.

As I pray and let God empower me to write and speak for His glory, it would be easy to receive the lie from the enemy that I cannot possibly do these things because I’m just a teenager. I could so easily believe the lie that I need to wait until I am older so that I have more wisdom. But the King of kings comes in with truth. His Word reminds me that He has made me for such a time as this (Esther 4:14) and that in Him I have everything I could ever need.

In 2 Peter 1:3 we are told that “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life.” This is why it is so important to know who we are in God, to spend time in His Word daily. When we know the truth in and out, no matter how or when deceit slithers in, we can quickly and with a sober mind reject and rebuke and replace lies with truth in the victorious name of Jesus. The Lord doesn’t need someone of a certain age, a certain degree, a certain past, or a certain platform on social media. God is simply looking for a heart that is willing to be obedient.

Set an Example

God’s Word equips us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17), including rebuking the lie of needing to be a certain age to make a difference. The Lord declares, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). We are called to set an example of serving God, no matter how old we are.

God sees the heart that is simply willing to be wholehearted in walking with Him. Today is the day that the Lord has made (Psalm 118:24), and we can make a difference. We can change the world. We can go everywhere and tell everyone the Good News, online and in person. We can succeed and be prosperous. What the world sees as a weakness God sees as an opportunity to show His perfect strength.

God wants to use us. We are atmosphere beautifiers, hope bringers, light radiators, and love messengers. As we abide in Jesus and He abides in us (John 15), we will lack no good thing (Psalm 34:10). The right time to do the right thing is right now.