Boldness Brings Change...Not Time

I love the words of Martin Luther King Jr. in his letter from the Birmingham Jail to a group of church leaders critical of his tactics: “I hope, sirs, you can understand our legitimate and unavoidable impatience.” His point, we can’t wait until the time is right to fight for right. He believed that true change happens at the intentional decision and commitment of people to take bold action.

And we know the change he brought about through his peaceful, but bold, initiatives. He campaigned and lost his life on the fundamental basis that time would not heal the racial wounds suffered in America.

My kids have quickly figured out that when I say “wait” it usually means “no.” They understand that nothing will happen as long as my answer stays in wait mode. Yes, life moves along, sometimes slowly. The Christian walk often mirrors a limp or a crawl. The process creeps along. But we cannot sit in wait mode. God is on the move.

Don’t wait to join God in the change he wants to make through you. Often, time alone makes no difference. Decide to act; to jump in and meet God in his work of recreation and reconciliation. When it comes to initiating change in the lives of people God seeks to make-over we have a “legitimate and unavoidable impatience.”