premature enjoyment

God’s timing is the best, period!  When you try to enjoy something premature, you don’t get all of the benefits. 

I was so excited when construction on my deck began I could hardly stand it.  Now, let me explain so you understand my excitement.  I lived in a house for three summers with a beautiful backyard and a space where an existing deck used to be.   It had to be torn down because of poor planning.  All of that work, time and money – WASTED! Getting ahead of God and not letting Him direct your steps will cost you lots of work, time and money.  We don’t plan near as well as God does.  “Unless God builds the house, they labor in vain.”

A huge slider door was off the family room waiting to be used with no deck to walk out on.  How sad.  The view looking out the sliders I thoroughly enjoy.  God and I have had many conversations overlooking my beautiful back yard.  I’ve spent many hours, laying on the floor in front of these sliders reading books, having coffee with God and reading my Bible.  I could have enjoyed so much more with a deck there. 

….Back to the deck construction.  About half the boards were across the width of the deck big enough for a lounge chair.   I was so excited I couldn’t stand it.  Yup, you guessed it, I got up there to enjoy the partial deck.  I had my fan out, lounge chair, book and a big glass of ice tea & a beautiful hot sun just waiting to give me some vitamin D.

While I’m enjoying the view from a whole new angle, God speaks to me and says, “When you try to enjoy something premature, you don’t get all the benefits.”   Immediately I think oops, what have I missed out on?  Are there areas in my life I have rushed into and thought was so exciting I just jumped ahead of God.  Now, I’m not saying I didn’t get a nice tan, have a relaxing afternoon by myself or enjoy the view.  What I am saying is, it took a little more effort to enjoy the partial deck, since there were no steps to it yet.  The boards weren’t close enough to the house to walk out onto from the sliders yet.  There were no planters with beautiful flowers out yet, no rails, no table & chairs.  Just a partial deck in very early construction was all there was.  There was way more work to be done to enjoy all the benefits.