Planting versus Prep Work
What are you planting today?
Verse of the Day
“Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.”
Today’s Devotional
This verse reminds me of one of my favorite verses: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
Many things we have to do in this world are hard. Most things require time and effort. And then more time and more effort. When we were in the middle of our foster/adoption journey, the Galatians verse was one of my pillars. Because I was weary most of the time. I felt like nothing I did was right, and that there would never be a “happy ending”. There may not ever be the kind of outcome that I would choose, but I did the best I could with what I knew at the time. One of my friends has a saying that fits here: “You are in the effort business. GOD is in charge of the outcomes.” That brings me a measure of peace.
Today’s verse has an important word that is used twice: “plant”. I find that relevant because of what it implies. Planting means that I have put my effort into something to a point where a positive outcome is possible. It’s not guaranteed, but it’s possible. I think much of the work and toil that I do might not be “planting”. It might be considered prep work. It might be the equivalent of pulling weeds or tilling the soil. But until my actions get to the point of “planting”, then basically I am just preparing for the actual work that might produce fruit.
Let’s go back to the foster care scenario. What if we felt the call to foster care, but never explored it further? What if we discussed it, decided that it was a good idea, but life got busy and it did not make it on the “to-do” list? What if we started the year long certification process, but never finished? What if we got frustrated by the broken bureaucracy and quit? None of that is planting. It’s all prep work. Which is necessary, but it is not planting.
If I’m raising a family and know that I would like my kids to go to church, but we never make it on Sunday mornings, that’s not planting. If we do go to church, and we then try to live out what the Bible teaches in our home, and discuss things when we mess up, and practice forgiveness, and thank God for our successes….THAT is planting.
These verses imply that the planting process is hard. It causes weeping and weariness. But when there is a harvest, there is so much joy. Can you imagine the stress on a farmer each year during the waiting between planting and harvest? Was the soil right? Will the weather cooperate? Will the workers show up? There are so many variables! God knows that, and he is telling us that he sees us during the hard parts of life. He is holding us during the waiting. And HE is responsible for the harvest, the outcomes, whenever and however and in whatever quantities he ordains.
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
If you look at your goals, or just one goal…are you doing any activities that would be considered planting, or are you just doing prep work?
Do you trust God with the outcomes in your life?
If you look at an area in your life where there has been a harvest, does it cause joy?
Thank God for that, and ask him to help you trust him with the outcomes and to lead you to actions that are actual planting.