The “harvest” reminds me of motherhood.
We till the soil as we potty train, we teach our little one manners, and faithfully plant God’s word in their heart.
Our deepest desire is to watch our kids walk in God’s truth and not depart from it–that’s our bountiful harvest.
But I’m sure you’ve also had this thought run across your weary heart “Oh God, can I just see a small glimpse of the harvest today.”
However, sometimes the harvest doesn’t come. Sometimes all of your work has very little to show for it. Sometimes reality is far from what we’ve read in the parenting books. Their potty training takes 3 years. The tantrums never seem to end. The character issues continuously pop up like within an hour of the last one. Family devotions seem to be another reason to argue.
Sometimes the harvest takes years to bud forth from that dry and barren ground.
As moms, we wonder, Are they getting it? Is anything I’m doing making any difference? When will they ever get this? Lord, why are we moving one step forward two steps back?
But I truly believe that nothing we do as mothers for His glory will be wasted.
Neither you nor anyone else is powerful enough to mess up God’s plan. Our kid’s salvation is not based on the work of our hands. Yes, it helps that we train them up in the way they should go and God calls us to this great work but listen closely it’s based upon on the work of His hands–on the cross.
Can I encourage you today to trust God has a plan for each of His children? Will you trust Him with the “harvest”?
Even when you’ve worked so hard and the fields lay barren. Will you trust that He is working? Even when you don’t see it, He’s working. Even when you are the one lacking–He’s working. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” 2 Cor. 9:10
Now that we’ve clarified on the fact that our children’s heart transformation is not up to us I want to end by reminding you how the faithfulness as mothers matters. There are countless stories which reminds us that our ordinary every day faithfulness matters. God uses that perseverance, that faithfulness and even our mistakes in the everyday ordinary tasks to mold, shape, and guide not only our children but for us as well. These women like Jochebed, Sarah, Naomi, Ruth, Hagar, Mary and countless more. These women were faithful to where God had placed them and with what He had given them even the ones with character flaws.
The first mom that comes to mind is Mary the mother of Jesus and how we reap the benefits of her faithfulness centuries later. From the very beginning, we see her trust and obedience towards God all the way to the very end when she had to watch before her own eyes her son suffer a gruesome death. I. can’t. even. imagine.
I think sometimes we underestimate and underemphasize ordinary faithfulness. God will continue to use mothers for His redemptive purposes as we direct, teach, guide, and love our children for Christ.
Verses to Motivate us When We Don’t See the Harvest in Motherhood
Hebrews 12: 1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Can I encourage you today to trust God has a plan for each of His children? Will you trust Him with the “harvest”?
Such an encouragement that I need constantly! Thanks so much for sharing these truths!
Hi Kristin, You’re welcome. Definitely a good reminder for me!
This is wonderful encouragement for the weary momma! Just today as my toddler was getting upset about everything, I was wondering if I had done something wrong as a mom or as you mention in this post, WHERE IS THE HARVEST???? Thank you for the reminder to not give up!!