PatienceSample

Active waiting

Although a confirmed city-slicker, I do enjoy the occasional drive out of the big smoke. Driving inland, it’s not long until you find some kind of farm country. I’m always intrigued to see the different stages. Some fields boasting infant plants full of potential, others with rich glorious crops bursting at the seams. Some just a big square field of dirt.

The ‘early and latter rain’ above refers generally to the two rainy seasons mentioned in scripture: autumn rain to germinate the seeds and spring rain that matures the crops for harvesting.

Being a farmer is in many ways an exercise of exceptional patience. After planting the seeds, they cannot force the crops to grow. They must wait and trust in the earth, the weather, and God’s creation, and then trust in the invisible miracle going on under the surface. In the same way, we cannot hurry the process when waiting for the ‘invisible miracle going on under the surface’ that God is accomplishing for us. The seed is planted and germinated and we too must wait for that ‘latter rain’ to hit our field of dirt.

But the farmer’s waiting isn’t passive. To the contrary, it’s very active. We don’t hear the farmer saying, ‘Why me?’ or ‘I can’t see anything happening so I give up!’ They continue to tend to the fields, ensuring the crops have the best chance to grow. We must do the same as we wait patiently – growing our faith, loving others, praying, and seeking God’s presence, knowing what will come.

Written by ROBBIE PARKIN