God is always an option. There is no circumstance, situation, argument, analysis, lifestyle, crisis or debate that can take God off the table. God chose to be an option for us when, from the foundations of the world, he gave human beings free will. He’s committed to the plan. So he will graciously and patiently hold himself out to each of us as an option for a very long time if necessary. He’s not taking himself off the table.

Sometimes, when we present Jesus to people who are in the midst of a problem or at a crossroads, we take their declination to mean that they have forever decided God isn’t an option. We may, ourselves, feel as though the circumstances of this life before us are way too much for even God to handle. We may get self-conscious and make a mental note to never bring him up again. We may actually believe a firm “no” at one moment in time is a no forever. Maybe we consider the paradigm of free will and think that to ask again at some other point in time violates a person’s right to choose. We don’t want to be a bother. We don’t want to be rude or seen as “that person” the world so heavily despises.

But God is always an option. He’s always on the table. And whether or not we have the courage or determination to offer him again, he says he’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious. He doesn’t mind being considered over long periods of time or at many different junctures during a lifetime. He is thrilled even when it takes someone an entire lifetime to choose him. The choice is important to God no matter how long it takes. Because he loves people and wants to be in relationship with each of us.

While he waits, God is longsuffering and gracious and filled with hope and goodness. He’s not judging during this time. He’s remaining observant and available. He’s actively loving those who haven’t chosen to love him yet. What lessons can we learn from how God waits and interacts?

We need to keep God on the table as an option for people even when it seems like they won’t choose him. That doesn’t mean bashing them over the head with religion, the Bible or a church events calendar. It simply means maintaining our faith and staying connected to the One who whispers into our hearts to bring the question again. And not chickening out when we hear him whisper.

Because God is always an option. No mistake, no decision, no distraction can change that. He’s always there as an option. Until the last breath.