People seem to think that they can respond to God whenever they feel like it, but scripture points to an opposite reality. Proverbs 1:28 says, “Then they will call on me and I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but they will not find me.”
This Proverb portrays wisdom as saying that those who rejected her advice when she offered it will pay the consequences, and “then they will call on me and I will not answer.” In other words, they will see that they should have sought her, but didn’t — and now it is too late!
Notice in the parallel phrase in the second part of the verse it even says “they will seek me DILIGENTLY — but they will not find me.”
In other words, there are times when a person has missed their opportunity to get the help they might have wanted. When that time has passed, even if they seek it “diligently” they won’t get it. This is a sobering word. And there is support for it in other places in scripture as well:
— when the door of Noah’s ark was closed, it was too late for anyone to call for help from the flood.
— Hebrews 12:17 tells us there was “no place found for repentance” for Esau once he had given away his inheritance “though he sought for it with tears.”
The takeaway for us today is this: “Seek The Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near”, as Isaiah 55:6 says. “NOW is the acceptable time; TODAY is the day of salvation.” (II Corinthians 6:2) If God is calling to you, and giving you an opportunity to seek Him, whether it is for personal salvation, or regarding a specific area of your life, do not toy around with it and think that you can respond whenever you wish. You can’t. Respond to Him NOW, for as Proverbs 1:28 shows us, there comes a time when “they will call on me and I will not answer.”
shawnethomas 
So then what is a person who feels that they are in that situation right now supposed to do? I thank you for preaching hard, uncomfortable truths, yet as a person who finds themselves in the middle of what they feel is a very similar situation, I don’t really know how to navigate through it? Make no mistake, I am here because I deserve to be here, but I feel like a very large part of my problem is that many people, even counselors, who I come across, have really not much of an idea of what I’m really going through. The hopelessness I’m feeling seems to invade every corner of my life. I’ve prayed multiple times to God that if there is truly no hope for me anymore, that he would just please stop waking me up in the morning, yet I still am here, so I’m hoping that that might mean something, but I don’t know. I’m praying that maybe God is shaking me again by allowing me to come across these articles again, and respond to them.
Please, just pray for me, and any counsel would be greatly appreciated.
Does God ever leave people alive just as a warning to others to not do what these people have done? Because that’s what it feels like he’s doing with me. And the worst part is, I know I’ve earned it. It feels like I can’t even really explain to others the pain I’m going through. I’m in group therapy for depression, and I can’t even really talk about the root cause, because they wouldn’t get it. My personal life is being affected…I pray for death, but I don’t really want it. What I really want is hope. Yet as my wife pointed out to me at one point, I seem to go from counselor to counselor, trying to find an answer that I LIKE. I can’t even explain to HER what’s going on in my heart right now, because she definitely wouldn’t understand. Is there ever a point where it’s just pointless for a person to pray to God for mercy and forgiveness? Because I’m starting to think I may have reached that point. Please just pray for me.
Ray I just read something you wrote I can relate no wonder you responded to my some of my story .I need to tell you something about me I am a recovering alcoholic I picked up alcohol while rebelling I was drinking until I fell off the face of the earth because I don’t like reality . I wish I was never born at times I don’t really want to be here on earth I’m ready to kick my parents where it counts.i just want to tell you I got deathly sick from drinking I ended up in the hospital with pancreatitis and pneumonia I quit breathing on my own they put me in a coma my sister my mom and my mom’s best friend Berniece came in and prayed for me I came of it .I got it a second time later on but this time I was on my deathbed in coma I was not expected to live again I was prayed over I came out alive and well. I know how you feel I’ve had a hard life I was a child of neglect at one time put in foster homes until my mom quit drinking my mom was a raging suicidal alcoholic she wanted to die she had a bad life also .just thought I’d share that with you .I wish you could meet my friend Jody God brought her into my life she’s my first friend ive ever had that we believe in each other . I wish you could come to Massillon Ohio to meet me and her .God brought me put of so much . I’m learning Satins been lying to me for years Jody told me that not in so many words .she’s first real friend Ive ever had She refused to leave my side because I have a habit of pushing people away .I’m so thankful for her .I hope you respond back to me .I’m just a pessimist I think you are to you’ve got to come out of that mindset .Your not hopeless please don’t be afraid of me I’m just trying to help you somehow.
Ray I just read something you wrote I can relate no wonder you responded to my some of my story .I need to tell you something about me I am a recovering alcoholic I picked up alcohol while rebelling I was drinking until I fell off the face of the earth because I don’t like reality . I wish I was never born at times I don’t really want to be here on earth I’m ready to kick my parents where it counts.i just want to tell you I got deathly sick from drinking I ended up in the hospital with pancreatitis and pneumonia I quit breathing on my own they put me in a coma my sister my mom and my mom’s best friend Berniece came in and prayed for me I came of it .I got it a second time later on but this time I was on my deathbed in coma I was not expected to live again I was prayed over I came out alive and well. I know how you feel I’ve had a hard life I was a child of neglect at one time put in foster homes until my mom quit drinking my mom was a raging suicidal alcoholic she wanted to die she had a bad life also .just thought I’d share that with you .I wish you could meet my friend Jody God brought her into my life she’s my first friend ive ever had that we believe in each other . I wish you could come to Massillon Ohio to meet me and her .God brought me put of so much . I’m learning Satins been lying to me for years Jody told me that not in so many words .she’s first real friend Ive ever had She refused to leave my side because I have a habit of pushing people away .I’m so thankful for her .I hope you respond back to me .I’m just a pessimist I think you are to you’ve got to come out of that mindset .Your not hopeless please don’t be afraid of me I’m just trying to help you somehow.I didn’t know your married I hope your wife don’t mind my emailing you .I’m not looking for a boyfriend not hitting on you I didn’t readcpletely through your replies or comments I apologize .
You can lose the opportunity to come to salvation by waiting too long