Don't miss out

Two days from now I'm giving a presentation on "when God doesn't give us what we want." I've been feeling a little inadequate, like maybe this isn't my thing. I worked on my presentation on and off all day. Tonight we had one of our two monthly Bible studies. For most of the day I was planning on skipping the Bible study to get my presentation nailed down. Forty-five minutes before the study, pressed by my mom for an answer as to whether or not she needed to babysit, I decided to go.
Our study was on 1 Timothy 4. We go around the table and each take a paragraph. Mine started at verse 11. "Command and teach these things. Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given to you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you."
I know Paul wrote this message to Timothy. I've never had elders lay hands on me. But tonight I felt God giving me an affirmation, an affirmation I nearly missed. When we skip out on Bible study we miss out on all that God wants to tell us. We miss out on Him telling us that He sees us, that He would never leave us or forsake us. We miss out on all the Biblical accounts showing how He was with the saints who walked before us. Make the most of every opportunity to get into the Word. Otherwise, you might just miss the encouragement He intended for you.