Planting Seeds of Hope

There is nothing like the smell of dirt that has been freshly turned over by a farmer.

Remains of the previous years’ crops are driven deep beneath the surface and rich, dark, chocolate-brown dirt is heaved to the top, with each revolution of the disc.

An earthy, clean, pure, down-right good smell. It’s wholesome and organic. You breathe it in deep, and you can’t help but to smile.

It’s the smell of a new beginning and fresh opportunities. It’s the fragrance of hope.

The tractor slowly moves across the land, with the sharp implements trailing behind it. It gnaws and rips, breaking the ground wide open.

Steadily, the memories of last season are ripped apart and broken to make room for new growth.

No matter how good or bad the previous year was, the farmer knows there is a season for everything. He must wipe the slate clean each Spring in order to try again.

The earth must be refined so it can thrive and new things can grow.

This turning over and wiping the slate clean in order to plant the new crop, is the very same thing that Jesus is doing in our world today.

We are in the thick of the global COVID-19 pandemic and it feels like God has just ripped apart every thing we know. And He has. For good reason.

It wasn’t working. Life wasn’t working. Our “normal” wasn’t working. Normal was broken, exhausting, and empty.

I recently listened to a powerful message from Pastor Furtick of Elevation Church that pointed out how we, as Christians, should not strive to return to our old normal. But rather, we should eagerly press into what God has in store for us in the future.

We serve such an awesome God and He is breaking aspects of our life, like a farmer breaks open the ground, only to rebuild our lives in the way He has always intended. He is breaking down our lives. For His glory and for our good.

And after God (and the farmer) are done ripping and tearing away the old, the freshly cultivated ground is ready to receive the new seeds.

The soil is fertile and ready to receive all of God’s goodness.

Row by row, the farmer will prayerfully plant millions of tiny seeds.

Thankfully, you only need the faith the size of a mustard seed (Matthew 17:2).

Just as God’s grace covers all things, it too, will sufficiently provide for the needs of the crops.

The seeds will poke through the soil, reaching and arching for sunlight.

Glimpses of hope.

The farmer will pray for the right amounts of rain, warm temperatures, and sunlight. He will pray against weeds and pests. Battle rising input costs, crazy low grain prices, and physical and mental fatigue.

At times, it can be an uphill battle, but he will keep going. Why? Because Jesus asked him to.

Because Jesus hand picks the farmer because of their steadfast grittiness and their unwavering faith.

Because Jesus says, “this is my ground and my crops, I am in control, trust me”.

Because Jesus says, “pick up your cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24-26)

My, oh, my. To have faith like that…

Faith like a farmer.