Go Time

September 17, 2025

By Marie Story

Something has always intrigued me about the story of Jesus’ first miracle. The second chapter of John tells the story of Jesus attending a wedding in Galilee, along with His mother and disciples. Suddenly Jesus’ mom tells Him that the wine has run out. That is a bit odd. Jesus was a guest. It wasn’t His job to make sure there was enough wine.

It seems His mom was expecting a supernatural solution to the beverage problem, or she wouldn’t have brought it to Jesus. But Jesus answered, “Why do you involve Me? My time has not yet come” (John 2:4).

It almost seems like part of the story is missing, because next Jesus is telling the servants to fill stone jars with water. He then turns that water into wine, and the master of the banquet comments on how unusual it is that the best wine is being served last.

I could never figure out why Jesus said one thing and then did the opposite a moment later. What made Him hesitate initially? Was it His human nature that made Him feel that it wasn’t the best time for His first miracle? Did He feel that He wasn’t ready yet? Did He feel that there wasn’t enough to work with? The Bible doesn’t give any detail about why Jesus hesitated, it just says He protested that it wasn’t time.

I wonder if God the Father just stepped in and said, “Hey, it’s go time!” so Jesus acted, even if He might not have felt ready. Maybe He didn’t feel comfortable doing His first public miracle, but God put Jesus in a situation where He had to act, so He used what He had.

I often talk about doing things “with all your might,” and striving for excellence. I believe that’s a key to success in life. If you can look to improve your skills and talents, and if you can put your whole heart into what you do, you’ll really go places.

Something that has often held me back, though, is the feeling that I’m just not ready. I don’t feel ready to take on some responsibility because I don’t know enough. I don’t feel I have sufficient resources to do the job. Or I feel that perhaps more will be demanded of me than I am capable of.

Yet I’m realizing that there are times when God gives you an opportunity, and there isn’t time to wait for you to be fully prepared or for circumstances to be perfect. In fact, waiting for a perfect set of skills and circumstances may mean that you’ll never act at all. I think that expecting perfection often holds us back. I think sometimes it tends to hinder what we’re trying to do.

I have listened to a few musicians who were technically perfect. They had studied music theory. They knew all the ins and outs of their instruments, and their rhythm was perfect. But I didn’t find much enjoyment in listening to their music. In all their striving for perfection, it seems they had lost the passion. In short, there was no spirit in their performance.

I have read books and articles that are grammatically perfect. Every sentence has been analyzed so that there is no room for misunderstanding. Every concept presented perfectly from every possible angle. But you know, I often put those books down halfway through. Instead of it being challenging and intriguing, and instead of seeing a glimpse into the author’s soul, all I found were dry words.

I have listened to speakers who seem to be reading from a script. Their intonation is perfect, their appearance impeccable, their gestures and expressions right out of a public speaking textbook. But it seemed like an act because they were focusing so much of their attention on technical perfection. So their message was lost on me. I only saw a performance.

But I have heard imperfect music that has lifted my soul. I have read unpolished writing that fired my imagination and challenged my intellect. I have listened to speakers who were not eloquent, who used some poor grammar, but who reached my heart and motivated me to do more with my life.

At some point we need to quit looking for perfection. Quit waiting for every plan to be flawless, for everyone to agree with us. At some point we need to just obey the Lord and move forward, and trust that God will work through us.

When Peter and John met the lame man at the temple gates, I doubt they were thinking “Hey, time to whip out our awesomely perfected miracle-working skills!” They didn’t sit down and write a speech, plan out a perfect strategy, or double-check their Miracles 101 textbook. God had led them to an opportunity, and they just trusted that He would work through them (Acts 3:1–8).

A wise man once said that musical perfection is mathematical, but musical inspiration is divine. Has God given you an idea or a dream or placed a burden on your heart? Has He put some inspiration in your heart? Are you acting on it? Or are you waiting for the perfect education, the perfect time, and the perfect opportunity before you get started? Stop and think about what’s hindering you.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t keep improving your skills and talents. By all means, improve what you can, learn what you can, make solid plans, and listen to wise counsel, but don’t let imperfection hold you back.

If God has given you a dream, if He has put a spark of inspiration in your heart, then do something about it. If God is nudging you and telling you, “It’s go time!” then by all means, GO! As you take the little, imperfect steps to obey God’s leading, He will go to work for you and fill in for your lacks.

Adapted from a Just1Thing podcast, a Christian character-building resource for young people.