Too Little, Too Late

The idiom “too little, too late,” is thought to have originated in the military, e.g. the battle was lost because too few troops arrived too late. During the pandemic, in many parts of the world, too few medical resources arrived too late. I remember hearing that India did not have enough oxygen.

Not being prepared contributes to the too little, too late outcome. Our current supply chain problems come to mind. In business, the sales department can bring in so much new business that it overwhelms production. Without adding people and buying inventory, customers experience too little, too late.

The athlete who waits too long to train for an event discovers the physical pain of too little, too late. And for people of faith, there is a temptation not to exercise our spiritual muscles when life is good. But then the spiritual storm clouds arrive. A death in our family, a new medical problem, a job loss, even a pandemic and the depression it can bring can makes us realize that we are unprepared to handle the spiritual battles.

In broken and strained relationships, sometimes we struggle to find the words of forgiveness; both in the asking and in the giving. Sadly, the response – it is too little, too late closes the proverbial door. Imagine, going to Jesus, asking for forgiveness, and hearing – “it’s too little, too late.” With Jesus it is always more than enough and right on time.

I have a good friend who mourns the death of his wife. His wonderful 37 years together were too little. The cure for cancer too late. By a strong and well exercised faith, he receives time and time again, a comforting message from God at just the right time.

As people of faith, we live in hope because the of resurrection of Jesus. Hope transcends – too little, too late. Even when human efforts fall short, Christ always triumphs. When the night is too dark and too long, there is the light of Christ. My prayer is that we carry the light of Christ into a hurting world, and may it not be too little, too late.