Sometimes, most of the time, I don't give my daughter good news too early. For example, she loves going to grandma's house. It doesn't matter if it's my mom's house or my mother-in-law's house. She just loves her grandmas and their houses.
I love that for her. But usually, if she's scheduled to go over their house, I don't tell her until the day of. And if she's not scheduled to go until later in the day, I don't tell her early in the morning. I tell her closer to the appointed time ... usually right when we're getting dressed, I ask, "You want to go to grandma's house?"
As always, she yelps "Grandma house!" with excitement and rushes to get ready. She grabs her shoes, her backpack, and she's ready to skedaddle. And if I delay for any reason, I won't hear the end of it. She'll work herself up and annoy me to no end if I tell her about a trip to grandma's too soon.
Then I thought about how I operate as a supervisor. I had an evaluation for one of my workers recently. It was a good one. For over a week, I'd been looking over my employee's numbers, mulling over her work, giving her scores. I knew that soon, I'd give her good news.
But I waited until the day of, about an hour beforehand, to inform her that I needed to meet with her briefly. I didn't want to tell her that I needed to meet with her too early. I didn't want the anticipation of the meeting to affect her work or mood. She wouldn't have known if the meeting was a good one or a bad one until we actually met. So, I waited to tell her about the meeting. I waited to tell her what I had planned for her... even though it was good news.
Then I thought about God. I thought about how I am a daughter to Him as my daughter is a daughter to me. I thought about how I am a worker of His, as my employee is a worker of mine.
And I began to think about what God may not be telling me. Perhaps there are some good, some really good things He has in store for me. In fact, I know He has some really good things in store for me... He's told me so just this past week on three different occasions by bringing me back to Jeremiah 29:11 three separate times.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
But I don't know what exactly He has planned. I reckon He can't tell me too soon because, like my daughter, the anticipation just may kill me. If God tells me today He's going to take me to any place that's as exciting as grandma's house is to my daughter, it's probably best He waits to tell me. It'll frustrate me too much if He doesn't take me there speedily. And I'm sure I'd annoy God to no end until He drove me to where He promised.
So, maybe you don't know what God is doing. And maybe you don't need to know right now. The anticipation may just be too much for you. I always know weeks or days ahead of time of what surprises I have in store for my daughter. I also always know weeks or days ahead of time if my employee will get a good evaluation and a raise for their performance. But they never know until it is time for them to know. I wait to tell them for their own benefit.
Likewise, God knows all the plans He has in store for you. He's known them since before your conception. Yet, you won't know until it's time for you to know, and that's for your own benefit. The anticipation may just kill you. So, be patient and wait on God. But like my daughter, when God says it's time to go, jump to your feet, throw on your shoes, and grab your backpack. Be ready to skedaddle because the anticipation will be well worth it. I'm sure of it.
That's all for this week you guys. See you next week if God says the same. Be blessed!
Like what you read? Check out Quin Arrington's debut book And Then You Shall Have Good Success: Attaining Good Success God's Way. Available on Amazon in paperback and eBook. Link listed below: