As spring approaches and the chapter of Ecclesiastes came to completion at church recently, God’s timing has been on my mind. How often do we get impatient for something? How often do we miss out on the season we are in now because we are projecting into the future?

As I drove home the other day, I took notice of all the trees and their bare branches. I couldn’t help but long for spring in all its colorful glory and everything in bloom. There’s nothing wrong with looking forward to something, but we have to balance that anticipation out by grounding ourselves in the here and now.

The same God that created the seasons in perfect harmony, directs our paths in perfect harmony as well if we let Him. He works everything out for our good. (Romans 8:28) What is yours will be yours in God’s timing. We have to stop trying to take the pen out of God’s hand, and let Him write our story.

I felt inspired this passed week to listen to some old school 90’s love songs—it’s my guilty pleasure. As I listened, I found myself becoming eager for romantic love. As much as I love these seemingly harmless songs, I have to be careful, mindful of what they are doing to my subconscious. I try really hard not to daydream about love, marriage, and the like. The Bible tells us to cast down our imaginations. Not only does imagination set us up for disappointment because what we imagine may never come to pass, but it takes us right out of the present moment, the present season we are in. One day, we will find ourselves wishing we hadn’t taken those seasons for granted. After all, once that season is up, you can’t go back.

I want to get married and have children one day. However, that might not be God’s will for my life, and I have to be ok with that. In fact, I have to be more than ok with it. See, even though I may think it’s what I want, God knows what I can handle, what I can’t handle, my deepest desires, and what motivates me. He knows what is best for me and when! If I spend significant time day dreaming about the future, I’m missing out on what’s in front of me this moment. Further, the more I day dream about finding love, the less exciting it’ll be when and if I do find it—because I’ve already experienced it in my imagination!

Love is patient. We have to learn to submit to God’s timing and His will before we can know joy, peace, love. We have to learn to surrender to winter before we can have spring.