For anyone who knows me, it’s no secret that “patience” is NOT my middle name (though my mother always regretted it!). Lately, the slow process of working on my vintage ’67 Bug has been excruciating and things like difficult puzzles or long books often lose my interest.
With the multitude of changes in the last couple of weeks –Â changing seasons, changing schedules, changing weather – I have felt a deep longing and hope for another change: to finally move onto our property and begin building our home.
Especially this week as my kitchen was overtaken by Ben’s homebrew setup, this desire for more space (or at least a separate cookhouse kitchen!) was definitely heightened.
As I’ve watched so many friends post photos this week on Facebook or update about their various canning and preserving endeavors, our desire for our own gardens and property are ever growing.
Sometimes I wonder why on earth God would give us such a strong desire for something so specific so early in our marriage when it seems like the reality of it is so far off.
I was literally asking God this question this morning while sitting in church when my ears perked up as our pastor was preaching…
He referenced 1 Corinthians 3:7 which says,
“So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.”
Pastor Mike applied this verse to that of a tree, and went on to say that since it is God who brings the growth, we ought to be committed to watch the growth.
Have you ever watched a tree grow? A couple months ago we visited a farm that sold fruit trees and we learned that walnut trees take on average 20 years to mature. TWENTY YEARS?! My I initial thought was to buy a baby walnut tree YESTERDAY and I didn’t care if it had to live its first 10 years on our apartment balcony, I simply could NOT wait to buy one AFTER we had purchased our property because it would be OH, SO LONG until we could harvest its fruit.
Trees take a long time to grow, and even longer to bear fruit. If I’m going to be doing the planting and watering as God calls me to, I need to be prepared to sit and watch the tree grow, regardless of how long it takes or how boring the process.
So many times I think I fail what God gives me to do because I do not have the patience or follow through to see the tree grow. I water and plant and water and see no immediate change so I give up!
I am so thankful for the message in church this morning and pray that God will not only provide the growth which I know He has promised, but also the patience to wait on Him.