We’ve all heard the old saying about putting the cart before the horse — getting things out of order, acting before thinking, or deciding before we have all the facts. Recently, a friend of mine, let’s call him Daniel, had a real-life example of this.

Daniel was interviewing a woman, Margaret, for a housekeeping position. As they chatted, Margaret noticed his little dog trotting through the living room — a fluffy, gentle lapdog that probably wouldn’t harm a flea.

Margaret’s face grew tense. “I’m afraid of dogs,” she confessed. “Years ago, I was bitten by a big one.”

Daniel reassured her kindly, “Oh, you don’t have to worry about this dog. The worst he’ll ever do is lick your hand.”

Margaret paused, then asked anxiously, “So… does that mean you’re firing me?”

Daniel blinked in surprise. “Fire you?” he said. “I haven’t even hired you yet!”

They both had a good laugh — and in the end, Daniel did hire Margaret. Now they have a wonderful working relationship, and even the little dog has become one of Margaret’s favorites.

Later, as I thought about this, I couldn’t help but think how much that moment mirrored our own tendency to get ahead of ourselves — especially in our spiritual lives.

How often do we make our plans, set our goals, and forge ahead with our own solutions… only to stop later and ask God to bless what we’ve already done? We act first, then pray second — the spiritual version of putting the cart before the horse.

In the Bible, there’s a clear example of this in the story of Abraham and Sarah. God had promised them a son, but when the years stretched on, they decided to “help” God along. Sarah suggested that Abraham have a child with her maid, Hagar (Genesis 16). Their impatience and human reasoning led to heartache and conflict that still carry forward today.

They wanted the right thing — to see God’s promise fulfilled — but they went about it in the wrong order.

Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

God doesn’t need us to figure everything out first. He asks us to trust Him first — and then act as He leads.

So maybe the next time we’re tempted to rush ahead, we can remember Margaret and her premature fear of being “fired.” Let’s not jump to conclusions, or decisions, without inviting God into the process first. Life runs a lot smoother when the horse — not the cart — is in front.

A short prayer:
Lord, help me to pause and seek Your guidance before I move ahead. Teach me to trust Your timing more than my own plans. Keep me from putting the cart before the horse, and help me to follow Your lead — step by step. Amen.