Recently, my husband and I spruced up our garden. I say “makeover” because a few years ago we made our very first attempt at planting fruits and vegetables, and let’s just say it didn’t quite go as planned. While we were trying to grow these seeds, they barely grew and the harvest was rather disappointing.
We all have good intentions when it comes to planting seeds. Whether with real seeds that we pray will bear much fruit and yield a bountiful harvest, or when it comes to nature planting the seeds of faith.
Truth be told, while I hope and pray that this time around my garden will grow into an abundance of crops that will feed my family (or at least produce vegetables larger than a thin toothpick), I’m also a realist and have a little (or a lot) of doubt.
Unfortunately, I also have a similar mentality when it comes to planting seeds of faith. Perhaps because I don’t always have the confidence to plant those seeds, or I don’t see the immediate impact of the investment and time put in, only to then see no real harvest, it can be discouraging.
This all came to a head when a casual conversation with my husband last night sparked an in-depth debate on this very issue. This got me thinking…what if we look at our gardening the wrong way, especially our “garden of faith”?
Yes, planting takes a little planning, a little patience and a lot of love. But it also requires a lot of trust and a tender heart willing to cling to the hope of a precious promise. A promise that guarantees life.
So, with that said, are you ready to sow some seeds?
If you answered softly yes, then I’m glad you’re here! Let’s start by awakening our own faith, then learn to plant with a little patience, water with love, and trust God for the whole process, especially growing and harvesting.
Awakening our own faith
Sweet friend, if I could encourage you today, it would be to tend to your own garden of faith first. There’s a very good reason why the flight attendant tells us to put on our own oxygen mask before helping others. This is because we cannot truly give and share our faith with others (at least not to the best of our abilities) when our own faith is depleted, slowly dying, or lacking nutrients.
Now, to be clear, this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t share our faith when our own faith is waning. In fact, there are good reasons why God may command you to do so, and we must always obey Him. All I am suggesting here is that when it comes to sowing seeds and sharing God’s love with others, we need to know and trust the Gardener. It means getting in tune with the Lord and allowing Him to prune, enrich and grow us as His beloved children (John 15:1-2), so that we may be witnesses of his rich and overflowing love. We do this through the discipline of reverent prayer, digging into His Word for truth, and seeking His guidance and wisdom so that we can learn to love others well (John 15:4).
Plant with patience
When we came home from the garden center, carrying a truck full of young plants, my first reaction was to dread all the work it would take to get them in the ground. It was overwhelming to say the least.
Sometimes I felt my frustration growing, especially when I was carrying these plants up several floors (since our garden is on our upstairs balcony). Yet that feeling slowly faded as I slowly remembered their tender stems and fragile leaves. They were now ready to be planted and I wanted to do it very carefully. Digging the hole was easy. Gently removing them from their current pot and placing them in a new environment was not. Unfortunately, some leaves broke off and delicate stems were broken in the process.
But isn’t that exactly how it seems to happen when we plant new life? I believe the same is true when it comes to planting “seeds of faith.”
We may be able to share our testimony easily, but making it personal to an unbeliever or someone we love deeply is downright impossible. This is where we need to be patient and remember that we are dealing with fragile aspects of another person’s life. Planting a seed with patience does not require perfection; it takes a gentle heart ready to respond to the nudge of the Holy Spirit.
What does planting seeds with patience look like in our daily encounters?
It can be as simple as keeping a few Bibles on hand and sharing them with those who come to your home and need a little guidance. This might mean meeting a friend for coffee and sharing how God is working in your life. It may be as simple as humbly listening to your child as they struggle to find their own faith, offering nothing more than a gentle ear and support. When we wrap each of these encounters in prayer, we allow God to use us to get a little messy by digging through the dirt in our lives and the lives of others, but to rely on His timing with great patience.
Water with love
Every day this week I filled our huge bucket with water and gave each little plant a healthy dose of IV fluid (H2O). But today the water came from above, and it was absolutely glorious. A gentle rain always has a calming and reassuring effect. Looking outside, I saw my precious plants smiling.
Knowing that Jesus describes himself as “living water” (John 4 And John 7), it should come as no surprise to us that we must not only patiently plant seeds, but also strive to gently and boldly remember that Jesus is the true source of life-changing water. New and emerging followers are often in a fragile state and need to be showered with love. This comes by directing them to the source of nourishment, care and tenderness they need to grow and which they will only find in our Lord. Jesus Christ.
What does watering with love look like in our daily encounters?
First, continue to be patient and kind, relying on prayer and Jesus to lovingly direct your actions. Cultivate trust by checking in and encouraging them with verses, promises, and truth. Share opportunities to explore their faith through service and ministry opportunities that allow them to embrace their faith. Invite them to church, Bible studies, or lunch to hear their hearts. As they begin their journey of faith, affirm their actions and offer support and encouragement as they continue to walk in the light (1 John 1:7).
TRUST God who makes you grow
The hardest part of planting seeds, and I mean this figuratively as well as literally, is the amount of faith it takes to trust God with the entire process. Planting seeds is not easy; watering with love requires selfless acts, but probably the hardest part (and the truth) is removing yourself from the equation and relying heavily on God the Gardener.
Dear believer, I understand the heart and feeling behind sowing the seeds of faith. In fact, we are called to go forth and spread God’s love to others and not be ashamed of the Gospel (Romans 1:16). We are also commanded not to be weary of doing good (Galatians 6:9), show compassion and kindness (Ephesians 4:32), and be the light in a dark world (John 1:5). But we can often accept these truths and fail to see the promise that God is with us in every step of the planting process. Yes, even if it seems like planting is failing or watering is causing them to slowly crumble. The truth is that God can capture and capture every moment, even those we may ignore, like the casual conversation with a stranger at the grocery store or the quick discussion with your child about daily choices. God is with you. We are but the broken vessel for his great work (2 Corinthians 4:7).
Trusting God allows us to step back so God can intervene. It’s inviting him into conversations that allow us to share our faith. It is about seeking His wisdom on how to nurture or provide encouragement to the new disciple of Christ in ways that will promote their spiritual growth. Trusting God means letting go of the intentions we place on ourselves and others and remaining hopeful, even when the seed of faith you are planting begins to look exhausted or is not as receptive to the “light.”
There is a wonderful purpose in sowing seeds of faith in our daily encounters, for it causes us to reflect on the simplicity of sowing while relying on God for the full harvest. This spring, as you plant seeds, whether in your garden or in your daily life, pause and invite God in through prayer. Then act in humble obedience and plant with patience, water with love, and trust that God will grow new life abundantly in due time.
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