Seeds of Faith

James 5: Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. ... 

As I enjoyed a spring walk in our neighborhood park I was struck by the bursts of color as flowers have popped up in splendor.  I also noticed a lot of bare patches of land, gardens yet to bloom.  It has been chilly the past month and I naturally assumed, the flowers have not sprung yet, but they will bloom in their time.  I had no doubt by the laws of science and knowledge of the season that bulbs will burst and trees with flower by mid-April.

Suddenly such a simple reality hit me over the head like lightning.  For months I have been gripping to fear and anxiety about finances and my career and housing situation.  I have been fighting the current, wrestling with God as I beg in prayer for answers to my needs.  While I trust God has heard the prayer and hope in belief they will be answered, I'm so blocked by doubt that I begin to accept the fact that my prayer won't manifest because it has yet to bloom.  

Faith is a seed.  It is something you must plant, care for and cultivate.  Our relationship with Christ is one built on trust and in that trust turning ourselves completely over to GOD's will.

When you go to a garden store, or if you are a farmer - when you plant seeds in the ground you expect to have the seed germinate and grow.  You also expect that the seed you are planting will yield the same plant you cultivated (i.e. you don't plant wheat and expect corn).  A farmer and gardener trusts that if they plant the seed, tend it and sow it properly they will reap the harvest - unless some external factor like hail or drought prevents a fruitful harvest.  In drought or hail - I know farmers often are crushed, but the next season they plant again knowing the seed they plant will grow into wheat.

It is so important on our spiritual journey to be mindful of the seeds we plant and to always cultivate right relationships.  Even more importantly when we plant the seed of faith in God, by freewill choosing to turn over ourselves to HIS will we must act in faith like a farmer preparing the harvest.  When you plant a rose bush you don't expect roses to pop up overnight.  All the while you are fully aware that you have a rose bush in you garden.  You plant daffodils and they might not sprout for months - it takes time to cultivate the harvest...it takes time for faith to translate into active results, but like the germinating seed that is taken root in the ground spreading life in the heart of the earth - secretly cultivating and growing out of sight - God is at work the second we ask for something in prayer.  We need to learn to have faith that he as at work and cultivate a conversation with God.

Cultivating has varying degrees of action.  It is important to speak to Christ daily (or hourly in prayer), but I have learned in meditation on scripture that while God wants us to keep praying and it is okay to pray about the same issue, we also cannot smother that prayer - if you keep coming to God angry that the need has not been met and bitter - it dries up the seed of faith and trust - it makes your relationship brittle.  On the flip side, God does encourage us to question His will.  Abraham and Sarah did...Moses questioned God, but when you question do it with the intention of cultivating faith and be willing to release control of the situation over to God.  He is at work.  

I was frantic the other day about the pray I'm waiting on when I stumbled on a page in a magazine about Lazarus.  Jesus knew his friend was sick and continued to heal other people, strangers, and seemed to neglect Lazarus in suffering - wouldn't that drive you mad?  Our human reaction is 'how selfish,' but Jesus did not leave Lazarus.  He let him die so Jesus could glorify God in healing of Lazarus.  The story of Lazarus reminds us that sometimes you have to 'die' to past obstacles - bad relationships, let go of anger and trust issues and turn them over to God, so when you come out of your 'desert' suffering you are ready to receive the abundant joy of Christ in all manner of living and help others in that life.  

In Washington State, the soil is high quality because in geologic history life was killed through ashen volcanic explosions - it seems counter intuitive to think a place destroyed by the fires of a volcano is very rich, but the soil is rich from the death of trees and other nutrients - an example of when we let our sins die we can find a new abundance in the soil of Christ - it is a lush land, a rich land for harvest - we merely need plant the seed of faith and He will be our source and supply.

Christ did not forsake Lazarus - Jesus had a plan - sometimes God's plans are so out of sync with our world we feel he has abandoned us or life on earth is only suffering.  Trust in God, ask for discernment - pray to the Holy Spirit.  God is in action the second you pray -he knows your desires before you speak them - He will help - unanswered prayers are answered with an alternative door - far better than the limits of human imagination.  Trust in God, he makes our broken thoughts set on his path and he turns desert soil into abundant fields.

I think it is AMAZING how many churches have gardens, community gathering places, where the harvest of the soil is given to local food banks to help feed the community.  A lot of towns have community gardens and parks to help add the healing power of green spaces to concrete jungles - gardens and fields are places of peace.  

During Lenten giving consider donating to a non-profit that helps to feed the hungry and plants seeds of hope.  Many non-profits literally plant seeds - offering micro-loans to farmers and helping to protect water supply.  Episcopal Relief Development is one of the many great organizations for this work.  $50 can go a long way.  Remember all that we have is Christs and of thine own have we given HIM.  

There is a website http://www.freerice.com  I try to do 1000 grains a week (daily if I can) - you click words and learn vocabulary while giving rice to the World Food Program.  Can you carve 10 minutes out of your day to help cultivate a harvest in the lives of others.

 

 This is a local garden at our park - as I walk by I don't doubt that even though it is barren now that floral colors will burst forth by late spring.  Gardeners were at work nearby.  God is always at work in our lives and working to help us with our prayers.

Your mission is to trust in God as you wait for HIS harvest with gratitude and thanksgiving.  Also be ready to serve in tending the needs of others like a sower who has come to reap.  Help others, trust in God.  Peace be with you.  Let LOVE be the light that stirs your soul and mercy the water to nourish your seed of faith.

Bible verses on sowing seeds and faith: 

http://www.openbible.info/topics/planting_seeds_for_the_harvest

http://www.openbible.info/topics/sowing_seeds

Luke 8:15 ESV / 119 helpful votes

As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.