Jen’s Gem: God’s plan is always worth the wait.

As I mentioned in last week’s post, my community garden project is bringing to light several truths that not surprisingly are biblically founded. The topic of sowing and reaping is throughout the scriptures as a universal law. What you sow, you reap. Pretty simple.

Sometimes, in our excitement (or impatience), we try to reap before the harvest is ready. I learned this with my first round of lettuce. In anticipation of my first free salad, I snipped the baby greens too soon and to make matters worse, I snipped them too much, leaving the little sprouts to burn up in the sun. I learned the lesson and as they say, if at first you don’t succeed…

Both of my children were late entering the world. At my last doctor appointment before my son’s birth, who was nine days past his due date, I was told that I could nudge him out by inducing labor. I’d heard horror stories that this would elongate labor.

There wasn’t any imminent danger to me so despite my uncomfortableness, I decided to let him be. That evening, I ate meal that would choke a horse and guess what? My son was born the next day! I suspect he was struggling to move with the pound of pasta in my gut!

To this day, my son operates in his own time. When he is rushed or nudged too much, he recoils. His Type B personality and my Type A make for some interesting exchanges!

Years ago, I was asked to speak at a women’s conference. The audience was filled with mothers and I was blogging about my parenting journey. Perfect fit! I prepared my talk and couldn’t wait to launch my speaking career. I even had a friend of mine videotape me.

I was met with blank stares. No one laughed at my funny quips. There were no questions afterwards. Humiliated, I slinked off the stage. What happened? 

I could blame the audience. I could blame the organizer. I could blame the weather.

Yet, maybe there was no one to blame. Maybe I stepped out before I was ready. I tried to induce labor so I could birth a new career as a paid speaker.

“But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” ((Romans 8:25 NKJV)

I’ve had the privilege of standing in front of several audiences since that fateful day. By the grace of God, they’ve been well-received. Yesterday, I told the story of the publishing of my book and how I knocked on several publisher’s doors only to have it slammed in my face. I relegated my beloved manuscript to its forever home on my laptop.

Years later, while attending Bible College, I learned that there was information in the book that was biblically wrong. Had I rushed to publish the book, I would’ve misled people about who God is and what His promises are. The consequence of my impatience would be far worse than blank stares and a silent audience.

I’m currently at the onset of a new season in my life. I don’t know what is next for me, but here is what I do know. I will plant some seeds. I will tend to them by doing something each day to help them to grow and then I will wait for the harvest.

If I have learned one lesson, it’s this: You can’t rush God. His timing is not our timing. Our lack of a harvest may be His protection over us. Our unfruitfulness may be that He’s still cultivating our seeds. Either way, getting ahead of God will never turn out well.

“Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14 NKJV)

“Slow down. You move too fast.” (Simon & Garfunkel)

“The waiting is the hardest part” (Tom Petty)

“I’ve been waiting for a girl like you.” (Foreigner)

Waiting is a fact of life. The sooner we accept this and put our trust in God, the greater our harvest will be.