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a word for the discouraged, bearing fruit, being a fruitful christian, don't give up, encouragement, encouragement for the weary, fruit in God's time, God's harvest, harvest for the Kingdom, more than we ever imagined, no need to be discouraged, nothing to be discouraged about, planting for God's kingdom, sowing and reaping, steady plodding, trusting the Master Gardener
Psalm 1:1-3 says, “How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path of sinners or join a group of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the LORD’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. The wicked are not like this; instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.”
“Whatever he does prospers”…hmmm.
Doesn’t feel like it at times, does it?
Feels like we sow seeds that never germinate.
Feels like we plant seeds over and over again with no results.
Feels like a “hard row to hoe”, as many of us grew up saying.
But, when we remember verse three in this passage, everything changes.
When we remember we are planting trees, our perspective changes.
Trees take a long time to grow, even longer to bear fruit. Wheat comes up quickly, but is used up. One season and wheat’s value is over. The chaff of wheat is not even good for a season. The Word tells us that the wicked, those who are not following God are like chaff, but those that are following God’s leading are like planted trees. That’s why the Word can promise us that “whatever he does prospers.” Every seed that’s planted, every weed that’s plucked, and every waiting period is not wasted because we are planting trees, not wheat.
Sometimes, planting a tree looks like teaching Sunday School year after year, never knowing whether the seeds you are planting are really taking root. Don’t worry, you are planting trees, not wheat.
Sometimes, planting a tree looks like teaching Vacation Bible School to the same rowdy kids year after year. Don’t give up. You are planting trees, not wheat.
Sometimes, planting a tree looks like home schooling two head-strong boys for fifteen years. Don’t worry. You are planting trees, not wheat.
Sometimes, planting a tree looks like ministering to the same couple with the same problems week after week. Don’t stress. You are planting trees, not wheat.
Sometimes, planting a tree looks like being kind to the meanest person in the neighborhood day after day. Don’t worry. You are planting trees, not wheat.
So, keep planting, keep sowing, and keep trusting the Master Gardener to watch over those precious seeds. Allow Him to water, to weed, and to nurture until those seeds become the most fruitful trees you ever imagined. Don’t be discouraged if results take a while, years even, because we are not planting wheat. We are not planting seeds that are only good for a short season. Be encouraged. We are planting trees.
*image by blogdailyherald.com
