But where is the fruit?

Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest. (Psalm 126:5-6)

Planting isn't always 'productive' right away, is it? I know I have planted seeds, watching for some sign that there will be growth imminent from within the soil, waiting for what seems like an eternity. Finally, when growth begins to appear, is the harvest immediate? Nope, you have to watch as that plant puts on more leaves, grows taller and becomes stronger. Soon blossoms will come, but still no harvest. If the conditions are right, those blooms will turn to fruit - either in the form of beautiful flowers or things that will eventually nourish our bodies. In the passage of time, the harvest becomes plentiful. In the meantime, there is a whole lot of faithfulness required to 'tend' that garden. In much the same way, God's seeds aren't going to always produce an immediate harvest - they must be tended.

Sometimes the planting comes with much sorrow, especially when it is into soil that had once been fruitful, but over the course of time became dry and lacked any signs of production. It is possible for a life to be fruitful in one season, then be totally non-productive the next. Is the harvest still promised? If the seeds are tended, I believe it is! In the space between productivity and that lack of growth, is nothing happening inwardly? Not always. Sometimes the greatest preparation for the harvest is when it seems like there is no sign of the seed, nor the harvest. Just as the seeds had to be under the soil for what seemed like an eternity, some of God's seeds in our lives are planted, but the harvest is much, much further down the road. It appears we will have to wait, but we should never give up hope!

As we begin a new year, there are likely seeds which have been planted in the 'old year'. Seeds that were planted in hard times, others that were planted when all seemed to be going well. Perhaps the evidence of growth is there, but not the fruit. Just as the plant springing forth from the soil has a 'promise of fruit', that evidence of growth you are seeing is about to produce fruit, but it will be 'in season'. You cannot rush the process! God gave us the seed, then he asks us to be patient until he brings it to full growth. Don't lose hope that you will soon bear fruit. I believe this could be the year that produces the biggest and best of fruit in your life - in God's hands and in his timing. Just sayin!