Examining Scripture:
“Rejoicing in hope;
patient in tribulation;
continuing instant in prayer;”
Romans 12:12
Evaluating Soil:
Whether we have a large or small garden, the goal is to see growth and a harvest. It doesn’t matter if you have a farm with acres of gardens, some hanging plants, a few container gardens, or a single houseplant. All gardening starts with hope. It also comes with some labor and tribulations, like pests, weather issues, disease, and neglect, etc. That is why gardening takes patience, and a prayer or two, to realize our dream of reaping a harvest.
Our life’s garden is the same way. If we’re not rejoicing as we go about our many tasks, have begun to feel hopeless, or have little patience left for what we are doing or who we are doing it with, something is wrong. We may have taken our eyes off of the source of our hope, or may be struggling through a tribulation.
Now is a good time to hit pause. Stopping to re-evaluate what God is wanting from our garden versus what we desire to harvest, can help us renew our focus and productivity.
Experiencing Seasons:
As I have been looking at Romans 12, my desire to live a holy, simple, hopeful, and fruitful life has been growing. I’m yearning for quality fruit over quantity and find myself pondering this question:
What harvest does God want to see from my life’s garden?
I’m at a crossroads in my life and feel a little unsettled. Life has not gone like I hoped and dreamed. I’m not seeing the fruitfulness I long for. I’m getting older and wondering where I belong. I feel less productive than ever and like I can’t keep up.
Some possible reasons for this come to mind. I could be feeling unfruitful right now due to:
- Trials we are facing
- Work insecurity
- Life experiences
- Aging issues
- Grief
- Poor health habits
- Plain ol’ laziness
- An apathetic attitude
- A lack of faith
- Loneliness
- Disconnection from others
- Overwhelm
- National & global unrest
- Etc.
Can you relate to any of these? When hopelessness creeps in, it not only stifles my rejoicing, it stretches my patience, and hinders my fruitful productivity.
Embracing Solace:
Some days we can’t just push through our tribulations and make things happen because we want them to. Fruitfulness can’t be forced. We can nurture our gardens, but we can’t make them grow. When there are threats or trials, we have to find strength and security. Hope finds solace in patience and prayer.
Enjoying Simplicity:
Complicated lives, filled with impatient complaining and non-Christian responses and reactions, will hinder fruitfulness. Chaos crowds our judgement and distracts our hope, and it’s hard to rejoice in that atmosphere.
Employing Solutions:
Notice Romans 12:12 again. It doesn’t say that we are to be rejoicing in the harvest. It says we should be rejoicing in hope. This joy comes with expecting to see the fruit of our labor. It helps us to be patient in the tribulations.
When we pray in hope, and with patience, we show others we believe that our Creator will bless our work and provide the increase of our gardening efforts.
Gardening is fun. But, it isn’t just a “throw a plant or seed in the dirt, sit back, and drink a frosted, sweating glass of cool, sweet tea” endeavor. It takes consistent effort, a wheelbarrow full of hope, a hat full of patience, and bent knees.
Bring It Home
Are you hopeful and rejoicing in your harvesting?
Praying for you as we grow together,
Smiles, BRC
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