Faith

These are carrot plants. I’ve never planted carrots before. I’ve never planted any root vegetable before. I’m not sure I’ll know when they are “done.”

Carrots aren’t like tomatoes that turn red to let me know when to pick them. Supposedly, the tops of the carrots will push out of the ground; that will be my signal to dig them up. I hope that’s true. The plants look healthy to me; I’d hate to mess up a good crop by harvesting them too early or too late. I hope they actually are a good crop; hard to tell since I can’t see them.

A garden is an act of faith. Acts of faith are a little scary; so many unknowns.

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.” Genesis 12:1.

Not even, “Move to that land you’ve been visiting over the years.” Move to that land I will show you. Just pack and go. I’ll let you know when to stop. When the carrot tops push up out of the ground? At least someone told me that the carrot tops would push out of the ground.

It’s a little ridiculous comparing growing carrots to Abram’s journey, but it may be about as adventuresome as I get. Small steps. I do not know how these carrots will turn out. And I can’t monitor their growth or health; it’s all underground.

But there are these visible signs of the growth going on underground. There are these healthy-looking fronds. This greenery encourages me that God is growing healthy carrots where I can’t see them. Maybe Abram has some signposts along the way – “You’re going the right way!”

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. John 14:27. 

Peace. Now that’s some leafy green fronds!

Take a breath and let that sink in.

The tough part of this, for me, is the waiting. I’m used to instant access and “timely” responses. I planted the carrots in late April. I would never have waited that long for an email response!

Wait for the Lord, be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:14.

A garden takes faith, and a garden takes waiting. A seed planted in February bears fruit in May; a seedling planted in May bears fruit in July. Some things you just can’t rush. For reasons we may not understand, some things just take time.

Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. James 5:7.

When I hear of evil in the world; when I encounter prejudice and fear-based hatred in my circle of friends; when I let my bias color my view of others, I wonder, with the psalmists of old,

How long, O Lord? Psalm 119:81, Psalm 13:1, Psalm 71:12, Psalm 89:46.

How long before we can see others through God’s eyes? How long before we can give to others without worrying about ourselves? How long before we can react to hate with love? How long before we spend our time building each other up instead of tearing each other down? How long before the Holy Spirit’s fruit is evident in my life and the lives of others?

But then I see a leafy green frond of love and acceptance, of grace and gift, and I thank God for the signs that something good is growing.

Someday, those carrots will rise above the ground. Someday, His kingdom will come on this earth. Have faith, my friend.

“Surely, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20.

Betsy