Seeing the Possibilities?

I live in Southwest Minnesota. Beautiful farm country. A few hours north of us you will find an abundance of trees, but here in our area you will find mostly flat ground, corn and soybean fields.

Earlier this spring I was driving out of town and looking across these vast fields on either side of me. I knew that many of the fields had recently been planted, but on that morning no growth could be seen.

To those unfamiliar with farming, their eyes may focus on the barren field. But for some reason that morning I focused on the possibilities I saw. The growth that I knew would come after a few good rainy days and some warmer temperatures.

It wasn’t until more recently that I even had an understanding of all the things that a farmer has to deal with.

When the ground is frozen over the winter and then thaws, rocks deep in the soil push up to the surface of the fields. One of the first things the farmers have to do before they plant their crops is to pick rocks so that those rocks don’t damage their equipment.

The seeds have to be planted at the right time for them to germinate. If the seeds are planted when the ground temperature is too cold they won’t germinate properly and the seeds won’t grow. If they’re planted when it is too wet, the seeds will rot and they won’t grow. If the farmer plants when the conditions aren’t right they may find themselves having to replant so that they will have a harvest in the fall.

There are many factors that the farmers have to consider so that they have the greatest possibility of a successful harvest.

And yet, there are unexpected things that have the potential to ruin a good crop. Just last week a storm brewed a few miles from our community and brought large hail with it. 40 area farmers saw significant damage to their crops, forcing them to determine if there was enough damage or time to warrant a replant.

I have often thought that the farmer must be a bit of a dreamer. They have a resilience that you don’t often see. They have discovered how to weather a storm. They push forward even through difficult times and they see the possibilities with each new growing season.

I was struck with how farming can mirror our own dreaming journey.

In my life, I can see that the seed has been planted but the growth isn’t necessarily seen yet.

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Can I still see the possibilities?

In our own journey, we too may have obstacles in our way. Maybe it’s a sin in our life that is keeping us from our full potential. Maybe it is a doubt or a fear that causes us to remain stuck. We must ask ourselves how we will handle these bumps in the road, or will they be our excuse to just give up?

We may be hit with unexpected blows. This world can be a dark place and I have seen many a dreamer struck with circumstances that knock them down. Will we take these times to reevaluate, to prayerfully ask God if we need to press on or let go?

There may be times when we look across the field of our life and just see the barren ground. We need to remember that there are seeds planted under the surface waiting to grow. And in God’s perfect timing, and His season, one day we’ll be able to look over our lives and we’ll see the fruitful harvest that has grown.

I don’t know where you are in your dreaming season sisters, but can I just encourage you to remain strong?! Trust God with each step, prayerfully ask for direction and guidance and walk forward in faith. Ask any farmer and they will tell you that there are seasons with abundant harvest and times when the crop comes up short. But they know that with each year comes new possibilities and they walk faithfully forward with anticipation of what each new season will bring. I want to be like that in my own life as well, don’t you?!

Photo Credit: Alternative Heat

Shared by: Kristin Smith