57_Dangers of procrastination

Ex 8:5-10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the canals and over the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt!’” 6 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. 7 But the magicians did the same by their secret arts and made frogs come up on the land of Egypt.

8 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Plead with the Lord to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.” 9 Moses said to Pharaoh, “Be pleased to command me when I am to plead for you and for your servants and for your people, that the frogs be cut off from you and your houses and be left only in the Nile.” 10 And he said, “Tomorrow.” Moses said, “Be it as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God.

J.C. Ryle, the first Anglican bishop of Liverpool, once said, “Tomorrow is the devil’s day, but today is God’s. Satan does not care how spiritual your intentions are, or how holy your resolutions, if only they are determined to be done tomorrow.” These words reveal one of the most dangerous spiritual pitfalls—procrastination. We may have the best intentions. Our desire may be to obey God. But the depth and sincerity of that desire are suspect if we delay. Delay can cause us to miss the opportunities He places before us. Procrastination is more than poor time management; it often indicates unbelief, fear, or laziness, which has eternal consequences.

In Exodus 8:5-10, we encounter a striking example of procrastination. Pharaoh, ruler of Egypt, was in the middle of a national crisis. Frogs had invaded the land. His palace, his officials’ homes, and even the very beds of his people were infested. This was no minor inconvenience but a severe disruption of daily life. Convinced that this was a divine plague in retaliation for his deliberate disobedience to God’s command, Pharaoh summoned Moses and begged him to pray that God would remove the frogs. But when Moses asked Pharaoh to specify the timing for this deliverance, the astonishing answer was “Tomorrow.”

Why would Pharaoh wait another day to be freed from such torment? It is baffling, yet this reflects a deeply ingrained human tendency. Pharaoh’s procrastination demonstrates the deceptive power of sin. Often, the evil one does not urge us to outright reject God but subtly persuades us to delay our obedience. “Tomorrow” becomes our default answer. As day follows day, our hearts grow harder, and our opportunities to respond diminish.

Procrastination is no new phenomenon. In Acts 24, we read of the procrastination of Felix, the Roman governor of Judea. Felix was familiar with the ways of the Jews and convinced of Paul’s innocence. Yet, instead of freeing Paul, Felix postponed the decision initially. Later, Felix and his wife Drusilla listened to Paul speak about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come. Felix was convicted and afraid, but his response was chilling: “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time, I will call for you.”

Procrastination can lead to spiritual paralysis. Despite hearing the truth and feeling its weight, Felix deferred action. The “convenient time” that never came. Two years later, Felix was transferred. Only God now knows if he ever responded to the gospel. Like Pharaoh, Felix missed his moment of grace.

Procrastination manifests in various areas of our lives. We may delay repentance, convincing ourselves that we can turn to God later. We may put off forgiveness, waiting for a time when it feels easier. We may hesitate to share the gospel, despite a clear word from the Lord, waiting for more courage or a better opportunity in the future. Each time, we squander the moments God has given us.

Ecclesiastes 11:4 warns, “He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.” Waiting for the “right time” leads to inaction. The truth is, now is always the right time to obey God. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

The reasons for procrastination vary. Laziness, fear, doubt, and anxiety all play a role, but at its core, procrastination stems from unbelief. We cling to the illusion that we control tomorrow, forgetting that our time is in God’s hands. The antidote to procrastination is faith—faith that God’s grace is sufficient for the moment, faith that His promises are true, and faith leading to obedience in doing His will.

Very often, we treat the word of God like this. We nod in agreement when we hear it but fail to act on it. James 1:22 exhorts us to “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

To overcome procrastination, we must first acknowledge it to be unbelief and sin. This is the first step toward repentance. We must then take decisive action. Instead of waiting for a future moment of clarity or strength, we must act now. As the father of the epileptic boy cried out to Jesus, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). Weak faith in a strong God brings about God’s will.

Practical steps to fight the tendency to procrastinate include beginning with one immediate act of obedience in one area of procrastination. If you need to forgive someone and have been putting it off, take the first step today. Send a message, make a call, and pray for them. If you have delayed to repent of a sin that God has convicted you off, forsake it, confess it to God now and ask for His forgiveness and mercy. If you feel prompted to share the gospel, start with a simple conversation. Each act of obedience strengthens our resolve, increases our faith, and builds a habit of prompt response to God’s call.

The poet’s words remind us of the power of small, consistent actions:

Little drops of water,
Little grains of sand,
Make the mighty ocean,
And the beauteous land.
And the little moments,
Humble though they be,
Make the mighty ages
Of eternity.

Cultivating a heart of gratitude and trust is also important. This habitual remembrance of God’s goodness and mercy motivates a prompt response of faith. Trust enables us to step out in faith, sure of God’s help.

The consequences of procrastination are fearful. For Pharaoh, it meant the eventual devastation of his nation. Felix’s delay cost him his integrity and eternal life. We do not know how much time we have or how many opportunities God will give us. What we do know is that He calls us to act today.

Repeated obedience builds a life of faithfulness moment by moment. Let us not squander these moments by saying, “Tomorrow.” Instead, let us seize today, trusting in God’s grace to guide and sustain us in prompt obedience and unwavering faith. God bless.