When it is Time to Leave
- Baptist Daily Devotional
- Jan 4
- 3 min read
Rev. Charles Oppong-Poku | January 4 2026 | Acts 21:5-6
KEY VERSE: “When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. . . . and there on the beach we knelt to pray.”(Acts 21:5, NIV)
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MESSAGE:
In Acts 21, Paul’s journey shows us that obedience to God unfolds in seasons. There are moments of deep fellowship, shared prayer, and mutual encouragement. Yet there also comes a moment when God signals that it is time to move on. Acts 21:5-6 highlights such a moment. After walking together, praying together, and strengthening one another, Paul and his companions reached a divinely appointed point of departure. This passage invites us to reflect on what it means to recognise God’s timing and to step forward faithfully when He says it is time to leave. Let us survey the lessons from the passage.
The first lesson is “times of departure are appointed” - “When it was time to leave…”. Paul did not leave by impulse or personal preference - he left when “the time” came. This implies divine timing, in which God has appointed moments for starting, remaining, and leaving. Knowing when to move is as important as knowing where to move. Waiting for God’s timing protects us; running ahead of Him exposes us.
The second lesson is “Leaving does not mean leaving alone” - “All of them… accompanied us”. Paul’s departure was marked by the love and presence of believers, including family members. The Church is called to walk with one another through seasons of change. God often places people around you to strengthen you as you walk into the next season.
The third lesson is “Leaving should be covered in prayer” - “There on the beach we knelt to pray” Before Paul boarded the ship, they knelt together. They surrendered the unknown future to God. Prayer sanctifies transitions and centres God in moments of change. Every departure must be prayerfully surrendered because what begins in prayer ends in peace.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
Is God signalling that a season in your life is ending or beginning? When it is time to leave, God will make the timing clear, surround you with support, and cover you with His peace - if you walk with Him. PRAYER:
Father, thank You for being Lord over my seasons. Teach me to recognise Your timing in my life. Give me the courage to leave when You say it is time, and peace to stay when You want me still. Surround me with the right people, and let every transition be covered in prayer and guided by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING
DAILY word study: TIME The word translated as “time” reflects the Greek concept of kairos, which denotes a decisive, God-ordained moment. Unlike chronos, which refers to measurable time, kairos points to a moment filled with divine purpose, meaning, and readiness shaped by God Himself.
Paul did not depart because the journey was convenient or emotionally easy. He left because the moment God had appointed had arrived. His departure shows spiritual maturity—recognising that obedience includes knowing when to move on. God’s guidance often becomes clearest when a season has reached its fullness.
Reflect on this:
Discerning God’s kairos requires prayer, spiritual sensitivity, and trust. When God signals that the time has come, obedience brings clarity, peace, and alignment with His purposes. Learning to move when God says “now” is a vital discipline of faith.
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