I said, ‘Plant the good
seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard
ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come
and shower righteousness upon you.’ (Hosea 10:12 NLT)
I
love living in an area where we can enjoy all four seasons! It is
exciting seeing green sprouts bursting forth from cool earth; planting a new
garden; color replacing brown and barren landscapes; the smell of first mowed
grass; chats with neighbors; long walks; and sitting on the deck under the
warmth of the sun.
Fall brings gorgeous hews of warm colors; cool, crisp
and invigorating days filled with energy to prepare for the hardness of winter;
fall harvest festivals; and the anticipation of Holidays spent with family and
friends. Winter brings times of rest from outside projects and focusing on
inside projects and the warm glow of the fireplace while snuggled under my
blanket on the recliner reading or watching a movie with a hot cup of cocoa or
tea.
The
seasons of our lives are very much in sync with the seasons of the earth.
We plant seeds in the spring/summer of our lives when we are young,
fresh, rejuvenated, and ready to face any storm that might be on the horizon.
Those seeds could be times of investments in preparing for marriage; or in
raising our young children; or spending time navigating young family life with
other couples. As in the springtime, we
may not see the immediate results of these plantings but the seeds of investments are
ready to spring forth from the dead casings they have been in.
Other
times we are in the fall/winter of our lives when we are exhausted and weary
from the weeds-trials that have grown in our lives among our good crops sewn.
The elements of trials and heartaches beat down on us sometimes to the point of
surrender. Children gone astray, marriages falling apart, loss of elderly
parents or of spouses can become part of the barren landscape of our winters. Yet as with winter wheat* this is the perfect
environment needed for trust and faith to take root in our hearts.
Our
summer soil (hearts) need just the right amount of sun and rain so new growth
can take place from new seedlings and ones planted for the future. Too much
heat burns the crop; too much rain drowns and rots the seed.
Our
winter soil (hearts) can become hard from the distance of the suns warmth and
the snow and ice. Yet the coldness & snow is needed to help insulate the roots
of bulbs resting that have yet to produce once the thawing starts in the
spring.
My
point is there can be growth in any season we are in. Growth comes from
struggles, hurts and pain that can at times become unbearable to stand
under...alone. Seeds have to struggle to
burst forth from dead protective casings of fear and hopelessness. Our
struggles provide the perfect environment where the painful toiling of the Holy
Spirit can bring life back into our hearts if we let him.
The
life lessons we learn through the toiling cannot be taught through a book or
observing others. Personal harvests produces peace and contentment out of
bitterness, hope replaces discouragement, and rest replaces strife and
anxiousness.
In all seasons, Lord, may my heart be pliable
soil so the fruit of your spirit may take hold, deeply rooted so the storms
won't destroy the crops you want to harvest in my life. Keep the weeds of
complaining and bitterness from taking root and strangling the work you are
trying to do in my heart. May the harvest be 100 fold for your glory and honor.
*Winter
wheat is a crop plant that is cultivated from September to December in the
Northern Hemisphere. Winter wheat sprouts before freezing occurs, then becomes
dormant until the soil warms in the spring.
It is ready to be harvested by early July. Without this wheat we wouldn't have the
flour used for making breads since it is a heartier wheat.
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