Farmer-in-Training

The planting season where I live is over. Last year, when I first started planting, my husband called me farmer-in-training, referring to my lack of proficiency in farming or gardening. The planting season for me in my first year went well, but as a farmer-in-training, I made a lot of mistakes and learned a lot of lessons, which I carried into this year’s season.

Because I had learned a few things last year, I chose to plant more vegetables this year. What I did not consider was that I had less time on my hands this year than I did in the previous year to attend to my plants. So, I made more mistakes. I overcrowded some garden beds, overwatered my plants sometimes, underwatered at other times, overfertilized some crops, under-fertilized some others, started some crops too late so that it was not fully mature by the time the first frost hit, and even harvested some crops too early. I made lots of mistakes because that is what a rookie gardener – a farmer-in-training - would do.

A few months back, I wrote an article about how God, as an experienced gardener sometimes would take us from comfortable situations into uncomfortable ones so that we can have room to grow.

As a farmer-in-training that I am, I have proven my incompetence in knowing what is best for each plant and how to treat them right. And that is okay. They are plants – today, they are here; tomorrow, they are gone (Matthew 6:30).

But you are not. You are God's own prized possession (James 1:18), bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:19). God Himself left the glory of heaven to come and die for you (John 3:16). You are worth more than sparrows and lilies to Him (Matthew 10:31). You are of great value to God. His eyes are ever on you; never too busy for you as I was for my plants (Psalm 139). And He is no farmer-in-training. He is the Farmer Himself. He invented farming/gardening. He knows exactly how each plant (each person) needs to be watered, fertilized, transplanted, pruned, and tended for; He knows how much “sunlight” you need and at what time of the day. He knows you completely. He knit you in your mother's womb - every cell, every organ, every vessel, every strand of hair, He knows (Luke 12:7) ... and He is not a carefree, careless, kind of farmer like I was to my plants. No. He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). He loves you (Jeremiah 31:3). He handles you with tenderness to whatever level is required for your growth. He is very intentional about you.

So, going into this week, let go of all the doubts, cast your cares and anxieties upon Him, and strengthen your trust in Him. He never fails.

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