It’s Time: When God Says Go—What Obedience Looks Like in Real Life

At Nik Ripken Ministries, we often ask a simple but deeply personal question: What is it time for?

For some, it’s time to forgive. For others, it’s time to leave behind comfort and obey the Lord in other difficult ways. But for every follower of Jesus, there comes a moment when God says, “Go.” 

In our lives and in the lives of believers in persecution around the world, we’ve seen that obedience often marks the beginning of something powerful—something eternal.

A Defining Moment

Nik and Ruth Ripken have experienced this firsthand. In a recent episode of the Witness and Persecution podcast, Nik recalled the moment he and Ruth stood weeping at the front of their church, their newborn son in Ruth’s arms, as they approached a missionary after a sermon. 

The man asked, “What do you mean it’s time?”

Their answer was simple: “We’ve been disobedient. It’s time to go.”

That moment launched decades of ministry in places like Malawi, South Africa, and Somalia. It led to deep suffering—life-threatening malaria, the death of their son, persecution all around. But more importantly, it led to unmatched joy and purpose in seeing the Gospel planted in some of the hardest soil on earth.

“It’s time” wasn’t just a phrase—it was a declaration of surrender. It was a yes to God, no matter the cost.

Obedience Is Not About Location

Too often, we treat “calling” as a mystery or a moving target. We ask, “Where does God want me?” But the lesson we’ve learned over and over again, from our own journey and from believers in persecution, is this: Obedience is not about geography—it’s about surrender.

“Serving Jesus is not a matter of location. It’s a matter of obedience.” – Ruth Ripken

Obedience looks like crossing the street just as much as it looks like crossing an ocean. It looks like kneeling to ask forgiveness from a spouse or driving to another state to reconcile with a family member. It’s found in a quiet “yes” whispered in a prayer closet—and sometimes, in saying goodbye to everything you’ve ever known.

God’s Timing, Not Ours

When God says, “it’s time,” it rarely fits our plans. It didn’t for Nik and Ruth. They were pastoring, had two small children, and were building a life in Kentucky. But when they invited a missionary to speak at their church—the same man who had impacted Nik when he first became a Christian—it was as if God thundered through the ordinary and said, Now is the time.

That moment set them on a path of global ministry that would impact not just their own lives, but thousands of believers around the world. And the only thing they had to offer was their obedience.

We’ve learned from believers in persecution that God doesn’t use the most talented or well-resourced—He uses the most obedient.

Is It Time for You?

We believe there are many reading this who feel a holy tension in their hearts. You’ve sensed God stirring something, calling you toward something, but fear, uncertainty, or comfort has held you back.

Maybe it’s time to talk to that coworker about Jesus. Maybe it’s time to forgive the person who wounded you deeply. Maybe it’s time to move overseas. Maybe it’s time to say yes to the Great Commission—not just in theory, but in practice.

Let us assure you: Obedience may be costly, but it is never wasted. When God says go, He goes with you.

The Call Still Stands

The believers in persecution we serve inspire us because they say “yes” daily, knowing it might cost them their freedom, their families, even their lives. But they do it because Jesus is worthy.

“We go on His terms, not ours. If we go at all, we go as sheep among wolves.” – The Insanity of Obedience

The call of Jesus isn’t a suggestion—it’s a command. And the time to respond is not tomorrow, or when things settle down, or when it feels safe. The time is now.

Will You Say Yes?

We’re praying that, like Nik and Ruth that Sunday morning, you will look at your life and say, “It’s time.” Whether that means reaching out to someone in your neighborhood or preparing to move to the nations, God is still calling people into obedience for the sake of His Kingdom.

If you need help discerning what your “it’s time” moment looks like, we invite you to explore our resources at NikRipken.com, listen to testimonies on the Witness and Persecution podcast, or even send us a message. We would be honored to pray for you.

It’s time to stop waiting. It’s time to obey. It’s time to say yes to Jesus—whatever He asks.

Need prayer or want to share your story?
Email us at [email protected] or contact us. Nik and Ruth read every note and pray over each name.

Let’s step into our “It’s time” moment—together.