Have you ever started a garden, spending mega amounts of time and money only to bear the anguish of nothing, no shoots only grass and weeds? Or how about planting and seeing precious little shoots only for a severe rain and wind storm to come and wipe it all out before it had a chance to grow? Or worse, seeing the shoots, beautiful leaves, and yes, precious fruit, only for the ugliest of bugs to lay their larva, and eat the leaves, destroying what little fruit managed to survive thus far? It can be discouraging when you don't see any fruit of your labors I know, but DON'T QUIT YET!
The pictures above are of my own garden. Let me share a few short stories. The flowers are from two rose bushes that never seemed to bloom much or long, and a beautiful azalea bush that only ever produced one bloom each year. All my efforts seemed futile at best. The hydrangea bush pictured next to the roses has equally only produced one or two blooms ever. In five years I have tried EVERYTHING humanly possible to make this garden grow, with very little success.
While frustration and discouragement seemed to bloom often, I never gave up on the precious fruit! Glory be to God, the garden is finally growing. The roses and azaleas are beginning to flourish. The hydrangea blooms are about to burst and it's only the end of June.
Our organic vegetable garden fell prey to many a weather change over the last two years, but this year.......the chives, spinach, kale, tomatoes, squash, broccoli, and corn are already producing lots of healthy strong leaves and blooms ready to give their full fruit. The early delicious herbs and greens have already provided nourishment for many.
When the Lord told Elijah, "Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land", 1 Kings 18:1, Elijah did not waiver. He did exactly as the Lord told him by presenting himself to Ahab. He did not let the famine, Jezebel's killing off the prophets, Obadiah's fear, nor the prophets of Baal discourage him from his unwavering faith in the Lord to send rain in the midst of a long and severe three-year drought. He was fully convinced that the Lord would do as he said.
"Ask rain from the Lord in the season of the spring rain, from the Lord who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field. For the household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; and they tell false dreams and give empty consolation. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd. My anger is hot against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders; for the Lord of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah, and will make them like his majestic steed in battle. From him shall come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler-all of them together. They shall be like mighty men in battle, trampling the foe in the mud of the streets; they shall fight because the Lord is with them, and they shall put to shame the riders on horses. I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back because I have compassion on them, and they shall be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the Lord their God and I will answer them. Then Ephraim shall become like a mighty warrior, and their hearts shall be glad as with wine. Their children shall see it and be glad; their hearts shall rejoice in the Lord. I will whistle for them and gather them in, for I have redeemed them, and they shall be as many as they were before. Though I scattered them among the nations, yet in far countries they shall remember me, and with their children they shall live and return. I will bring them home from the land of Egypt, and gather them from Assyria, and I will bring them to the land of Gilead and to Lebanon, till there is no room for them. He shall pass through the sea of troubles and strike down the waves of the sea, and all the depths of the Nile shall be dried up. The pride of Assyria shall be laid low, and the scepter of Egypt shall depart. I will make them strong in the Lord, and they shall walk in his name, declares the Lord." Zechariah 10 ESV
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." Hebrews 12:1-3
Don't let frustration and discouragement cloud your focus. God will judge the godless and protect his children. He is faithful. Let him use you as you are called and yet a little longer, we will meet him in the clouds.
On a journey of Healing and Hope with you,
Terri Lynne