As a Gardener in God’s Garden, Are You Doing This Wrong?

For Christmas my mom gave me a small kitty calendar filled with hand-written verses for me to take with me of the Race.  

Each week contains a different verse.  Every month has an intentional theme that the verses encompass.  March’s theme revolved around nature (which is totally befitting, considering the lovely view of God’s creations surrounding us on the mountaintop this past month).  

I’m currently sitting with the Lord, staring at the plants in the yard around me.  I use the word “yard” quite loosely, considering the space is a hill made up of dirt; absolutely no grass, rocks, and a few newly-planted trees which are quite small.

As I sit here, staring at the few trees before me, I’m praying they take root deeply.  I may never see them grow tall; I will probably never know whether the roots they form will help keep the soil from washing away.  

In Matthew 13, Jesus speaks about the parable of the farmer who planted seeds.  Some seeds got eaten by birds, some grew in shallow soil and dried up from the sun, some fell among thorns and corrupted the other plants, and others grew into a fertile crop that reproduced one hundred times what had been planted.  And yet, this parable never mentions the farmer again. 

We may never see the product of the seeds we plant.  In fact, if we do get to see the fruitfulness of the seeds we plant in others, it is a gift from the Lord.  

For the longest time (both throughout my marriage and even after my divorce), I worried I would never see my ex-husband turn his life over to the Lord.  I let it consume me at times.  I often felt like it was my responsibility to lead him to Jesus.  

Wow, God.  Thanks for the heart correction.  

The more I tried to “help” him see the truth, the further he pushed back, and ultimately, away from God.  Thank you, Lord, that there is grace in this.  Thank you, Jesus, that your love and power is greater than my misdirected actions.  

Oh yes, my actions were more than misdirected.  Sure, they were well-intended.  However, if I had “saved” my ex-husband, I would have been pridefully certain that it was my actions that had led him to the Lord.

I may never see my ex-husband accept Christ.  I may never see the fruit of the seeds that might have been planted.  And honestly, if I were God, I wouldn’t let me see that outcome either.  Because it is God’s work and God who deserves every ounce of credit; not me. 

It isn’t our own work or responsibility to make people grow in faith.  It is the Lord’s work and every individual’s own decision to follow Jesus.  

We can’t make anyone accept Christ.

We can’t make anyone grow in their faith.

We can’t force people to love or force them to accept love.

We cannot make people grow into the potential we see for them. 

All we can do is plant seeds.  By this, I mean we can love people and point them to Jesus.  That’s it.  

For I know this: God’s Word will never return void. (Isaiah 55:11)

We can remain knowledgeable and hide God’s Word within our hearts. (Deuteronomy 6:6)

We can be ready to help others and meet their needs, according to the Holy Spirit.  

(1 Corinthians 2:13)

We can share the Gospel in God’s timing and pray for people, asking God to grow the seeds within hearts into the gardens He intends.  

We cannot change anyone.  And thank you, Lord, that we can’t.

Be bold, and trust Jesus.  Have faith that the seeds you have planted will grow, and pray for those the Lord lays on your heart.  You may never see these souls come to know Jesus, but know this: it is all for God’s glory, and Jesus is proud of you for the seeds you have planted.