Seasons of growth are coming! Faithful consistency always leads to a season of growth. Now there’s no timeline, there is only the guarantee that what you sow you will reap.
Faithful and good sowing leads to wonderful things. Foolish and careless sowing leads to undesirable things. Though we may not know exactly what the outcome will be, we can determine which direction it will go.
What You Sow
It is interesting how mysterious life can be, isn’t it? I mean, some people seem to have obvious expectations and results, whereas with others (myself included) things are a bit more mysterious. I say mysterious because I think that is an intriguing and inviting word.
For instance, it is a mystery to me how I ended up running a coffee shop – that was never my plan or my dream. Running businesses, owning businesses, managing employees – yes, I imagined all that. But not being a barista pulling espresso shots and steaming milk.
But when you let go of the limitations or the lack of a vision you have for something and really lean in to where God leads, isn’t that where the mystery can really develop and build?! Honestly, I don’t feel that serving the coffee is my greatest skill. But if this is where God has placed me then it is up to me to do my best and trust Him with the results!
And that’s what life is really about, I think. Making sure that what you sow, the efforts you make, the areas you serve, how you spend your time, who you hang out with, is all pleasing to God. Because you will reap what you sow. And seasons of growth come from sowing what is good.
Eternity in the Heart
“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” Ecc. 3:11
God has planted eternity in the human heart. That is such an interesting phrase and I can’t help but ponder if that’s why we have hopes and dreams. Is this what fuels us to investigate and search out mysteries and curiosities of the world?
God makes everything beautiful in its time – there are times of work and trial. But then when we are faithful it leads to seasons of growth – something truly beautiful! There’s no fixed time table. Rarely, if ever, a known date as to when things will come together. Simply a faithful God who has never failed His people!
As we go about our day, do our work, dream our dreams, anticipate seasons of growth and blessing, let’s determine to give our best to God. Let us learn to let go of our limited perspective for His incredible vision and direction! We can’t see all that He is doing, the scope of the work, but what an honor to get to be a small piece in His plan!
Everything Beautiful
God makes everything beautiful for its own time. Everything. That means even the trials, the late nights, early mornings, piles of paperwork, dirty dishes, etc, will lead to something beautiful as we remain faithful. We have a guaranteed outcome, a season of growth, that we can’t miss or escape from the Father Himself if we will but remain faithful!
I find this reminder so encouraging, energizing, and hope-filling! Yes, we have lots of work to do to get there, but that’s our job here on earth, to do the work set before us. If you don’t know what He would have you do, then ask! It is that simple. Ask, and then do what’s right in front of you. Make sure what you do honors God and represents Him well. Read the Bible and learn what He likes and doesn’t like, what is important to Him and what is foolish.
Often it is the simple, not glamorous work that needs our attention. Running the coffee shop means a lot of clean up – dishes, floors, equipment, counters, bathrooms, etc. But that faithful work leads to something beautiful – happy, grateful customers!
Seasons of Growth
I can’t help but think that seasons of growth will occur for your entire life. As long as we are alive it is our duty to serve God and grow in the areas He directs us. We never have a free ticket.
When small, we must be trained how to behave – that requires growth. Come school and young adulthood, more training and guidance is required. Even after graduation and college we must be especially careful to pursue God and make sure our actions and choices are pleasing to Him. And then, ideally, marriage comes along and you get to grow and work in more areas of your life then perhaps you ever considered! Not to worry, babies and children will hold their own challenges for you – in the best way!
But do you know a secret about seasons of growth? When you honor God, really work to live a life that pleases Him, that growth is not near as painful and difficult as when you try to pave your own road and please yourself. God designed us for a purpose and when we step into that purpose He gives us grace and resolve and energy to conquer what is set before us! He even makes us long for what He has for us! That is how incredible His plans and His purposes are!
But it is up to us to really trust Him. To lean into His incredibly perfect design.
Until Next Time!
Hope.
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