One of the most common analogies used throughout the Bible refer to gardening, planting, and waiting. Quite honestly, I am the complete opposite of a green thumb. I've killed my fair share of succulents (from over-watering) and have come to the conclusion that I do much better with the plastic variety than I do with the living variety. Although, as a total side note, I'm somewhat successful keeping my classroom plants alive and that's mostly because I often forget to water them!
But I digress (as I often do here on this blog). My parents have a growing garden of blueberries, peas, blackberries, raspberries, marionberries, and more. And one of the things I love most about the summer is enjoying the fruits of (their) labor and watching the plants grow, flower, and fruit.
And the funny thing is, I've realized that I have put more faith in God's work in these plants than I do in His ability to work in my own life. I trust that the blueberries will turn bluer just as I trust that the peas will grow bigger and the tomatoes will grow redder. I know that these things will happen because I've seen them happen year after year. Season after season. Summer after summer. I don't worry about them ripening because I know that, with time, it will happen.
And yet.
Yet I lack that same great faith and security that He is working in my own life, especially when it comes to singleness. I've seen Him work in my life in singleness and in relationships (and in broken relationships and disappointment as well). I'm not sure if it's the brokenness that beats me down, but I do know that I am too easily swayed into faithlessness than the faithfulness when it comes to believing He is still at work, even if I don't see that work happening in my timeline or under my wishes and dreams.
And so I've found that I need to make the daily choice to believe in what is true in this season of unknown waiting. I must choose to remember that if I can trust Him to grow and ripen the fruits in my family's garden, then surely, He will choose to work and grow me in my life and answer my prayers in my life.
He is faithful.
He has moved mountains before.
He is and will bring me through this season.
And surely, He will do it again (yes, this song is one that I sing daily!).
I've seen Him work before so surely, I know He is and will continue to work in and through me. Great is His faithfulness.
"Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master’s Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong." (James 5:7, MSG)
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."(Galatians 6:9, ESV)
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