The Last Option
by Bernard Kariuki
It's human instinct to fight with every fibre of our being to avoid the last option, which normally involves asking for help in the midst of our circumstances. Mostly we try to quietly battle it out in our own way for fear of being a bother to others or just simply because of pride.
God knows the weakness of human beings and that’s why He encourages us to ‘Ask and it will be given to you’ (Matthew 7:7). But usually we are tempted to exhaust all human means possible. Jesus says, ‘Seek and you will find’. We’re in a rush to find, but we’re not seeking Him in order to find. Jesus says, ‘Knock and the door will be opened to you’, but we’re stressed out and sweating with the struggle to open the door ourselves, while the Lord is encouraging us to just knock and He’ll do the opening, even if it’s an iron gate.
Before she had decided to seek Jesus for her healing, for twelve years, the woman with the issue of blood had tried many options, spending all her living upon physicians, but when she came to Jesus, immediately her issue of blood was stanched.
The Lord is merciful, and He is requesting us today to seek refuge in Him. Let’s make Him our first option, not the last after everything else has failed, and we’ve spent or whole life exhausting our own means. ‘The LORD is with you when you’re with Him. If you seek Him, He’ll let you find Him, but if you forsake Him, He’ll forsake you’ (2 Chronicles 15:2).
Make Him your first option, invite Him into that situation, before inviting everyone else. We’re not the strong one, Jesus is. It shows we love Him, trust in Him, believe Him and obey Him. According to David the Psalmist, when you take refuge in God you will be glad, you will ever sing for joy and God will be your shelter. So, you’ll have no joy, no songs of praise, no shelter from God, if you don't make Him your first option and run to Him for answers, for He is the answer to your situation.
According to Psalm 31:19, there is abundance of good things that God has stored up for you, for Him to lavish it on you when you take refuge in Him. So, make Him your first option and not last. ‘Seek Him while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near’ (Isaiah 55:6). That means, let Him be your first option and don’t wait until the moment is gone.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that You’re close to us when we call on You in truth. Help me to be always close to You from this day forward, in good moments, in bad moments, in plenty, in lack, in sickness and in health. Help me to always make You my first, and not last, option, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Bernard Kariuki is from Kenya, and married to Yulia from Russia. They met in Ellel Ministries and served together for many years at both Ellel Scotland and Ellel Grange. Bernard has the desire to share the Word of God with young people, for he desires to see young people walking in holy fear of the Lord.
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