Barely
Have you ever found yourself with barely enough?
Barely enough strength to face the day.
Barely enough energy to keep going.
Barely enough faith to believe for something better.
Or maybe you’ve faced seasons of scarcity—
Barely enough time to get everything done.
Barely enough money to meet your needs.
Barely enough support to carry the weight of life’s demands.
This sense of “barely” often leaves us teetering on the edge, desperate for something to change. And yet, it’s into this very “barely” that Jesus came.
He came—
Into the darkness and despair.
Into poverty and pain.
Into loneliness and lostness.
Into helplessness and hopelessness.
And how did He come?
Not with grandeur or might.
Not with fanfare or spectacle.
But in the quiet of an empty stable, laid in an empty manger, unnoticed and unimpressive by the world’s standards.
The heavens, however, told a different story.
The angel Gabriel announced His arrival.
Heavenly hosts sang of His glory.
Shepherds on a hillside witnessed the miracle.
“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV)
At just the right moment—when hope seemed lost and the world was overcome by darkness—God acted.
Why does God seem to wait until the last minute? We see it time and time again in Scripture:
Jesus, asleep in a boat during a furious storm, while the disciples cry out in fear.
“Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.” Matthew 8:24 (NIV)Peter, imprisoned and awaiting execution, only to be miraculously freed at the eleventh hour.
Paul, tossed on a stormy sea, his ship battered and broken, yet finding courage in God’s promise.
“When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: ‘Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, “Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.” So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.” Acts 27:20-25 (NIV)
Why does God wait? Because He will do it when He gets the most glory.
Even when we are unfaithful, He remains faithful. He cannot and will not fail us.
God’s people have always had to go back to the Word. Time and time again, Scripture reminds us of His promises, His faithfulness, and His perfect timing.
