Next month, it’ll be two years since we moved to Tennessee. Our house was built in 1994, and though its bones were good, I couldn’t wait to do some updates to make it ours. A friend once said that I like to mark my territory. Maybe a crude way of putting it, but he’s not wrong. The last owners lived in it for five years, but from what we were told, it had been used as a rental for more than one family beforehand. This place has seen a few shortcuts and a little neglect.
We did some major remodels, a little maintenance, and now we’re working on my favorite part—the landscaping. From the first time I saw this house in person (the day we moved in) there have been some aspects of the yard that grated on me. I’ll admit, I’m a little anal-retentive, and I like things done right—unlike whoever did the original work. They used lots of pave stones to border the flower beds. Not a bad idea (I’ve used them myself), but they were set improperly so the result looked ridiculous. But unless we were willing to jackhammer out all the concrete and start over, we had to find a way to make it work.
I can almost hear you saying, “Why are you sharing this?” What do you care that I’ve spent hours fixing poorly set stones? Trust me, I have a point. It was early Saturday morning that I was working on the last section of the intolerable stonework that I got the idea for this blog post. [Now, you should be aware that Chris and I both woke at 1:00 AM and couldn’t go back to sleep. After an hour of quiet time with the Lord and a 45-minute workout, we were working outside before six. I’m writing this late in the afternoon, so if I’m not making a lot of sense, I pray you’ll give me a little grace.]
How often do we get a stirring in our hearts to do something, and then speed ahead without waiting for confirmation or God’s timing? I know I do. Now, I realize whoever did a poor job with the pave stones wasn’t doing this unto the Lord, so maybe the analogy is a bit of a stretch. But, he (or she) certainly cut corners and didn’t think the project out. They poured the concrete walkway after the stones were set, then removed the stones, leaving ugly scalloped edges. Poor planning leads to shoddy results and wasted time.
That’s true in our lives, as well.
About a year ago, I felt God stir a desire in my heart to do some public speaking. I know it came from Him, because the last thing I want to do is be in the spotlight. A friend suggested I take a webinar on becoming my own publicist. I figured it was a sign. I didn’t pray about it or think beyond my own limited logic. The premise behind this webinar was that we’d learn to pitch for opportunities to speak on podcasts, radio or even television. Podcasts were my goal, since it was considered entry-level speaking. I did so well in the class, I won one of the coveted prizes—the teacher would pitch a host for me, which would increase my chances of landing the interview.
I did as suggested, wrote up my email pitch, searched out podcast opportunities that fit my “message” and sent them out. Nothing happened. Three months later, as advised, I did it again. Still nothing. Not one blessed peep. Did I misunderstand that stirring in my heart? Did God not have speaking in mind for me? My husband gave me some good advice—set it aside and wait. If it’s supposed to happen, then God will orchestrate it. A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but the Lord condemns a crafty man. Proverbs 12:2. Jumping ahead to make things happen for myself might not be on par with Abraham impregnating Hagar, but I have to admit, he did come to mind.
Last month, my editor emailed me. Well-known author, Chautona Havig, was interested in interviewing me on her podcast. Was I open to the idea? It could greatly increase interest in my novels, especially Illusions, as it had just been released. How could this be? I didn’t even pitch my “message” to her. I didn’t jump through ten hoops to get her attention. I wasn’t seeking out this podcaster. I’d given up on the idea entirely. Grateful, actually, because it was a relief not to have to speak.
The stirring in my heart was right—but the timing wasn’t. Had I just waited on the Lord, I wouldn’t have wasted money on the webinar class, spent needless hours to perfect my pitch and send it out to uninterested podcasters, or attempt to find ways to “fit” God’s plan into my schedule.
Tell me I’m not the only one who rushes ahead without waiting on the Lord. Is there an instance in your life that would have had better results if you’d just waited? If so, you’re in good company with Abraham (Genesis 15:2-6) and Moses (Exodus 2:11-15). If you want to know how, click here for a great blog post on the importance of waiting on God’s timing.
