Daily Affirmations - Day 1 - If We Faint Not: We Shall Reap
This week's Theme: If We Faint Not
Day 1: We shall reap
And let us not be weary in welldoing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not (Galatians 6:9 - KJV).
Just a few short weeks ago I looked at my thriving garden with deep satisfaction. Golden summer squash nestled snugly against their vines, creating a vivid color contrast with the green zucchini (courgette) flourishing nearby. Tomatoes studded the length of long, slender plants, and their dainty yellow blossoms winked at the sun in an open conspiracy of super abundance. Okras (my first time growing!) peeked from between and behind broad shading leaves, and herbs sprawled in pots large and small.
But as the summer growing season draws to a close, the idyllic, picture-perfect patches of agricultural miracles have become more than a little camera-shy. The once-thriving zucchini still valiantly blossoms, even as dried, shriveled leaves tell the tale of possible pest damage, or watering issues, or soil nutrient issues, or... And I am praying that the two beautiful butternut squash resting against the fence will ripen before that vine succumbs to the same ailment.
I still find joy in my small plot of earth— the tomatoes are coming into their own, small handfuls of green beans and okra continue to grace my table almost daily, and a few late peppers are gleaming in the late summer sun. So I continue to tend and tweak, with help from the "experts." But I understand why many gardeners report "gardening fatigue," or "gardening burnout" as the short summer vegetable season comes to a close.
Months of planning and preparing, cycling and amending, weeding and mulching, feeding and watering can take their toll. Not to mention anticipating and fighting against pests and diseases— especially for gardeners who choose only organic, earth-friendly solutions. Add to all this the unpredictable nature of weather— too much or too little rain; sudden spikes or drops in temperature; frost; wind; hail; and storms.
Biblical writers understood these challenges all too well. Much of the bible was written in and around agricultural societies to audiences with close ties to the land. The Lord Jesus Himself used many farming symbols and metaphors as He presented important concepts in His teachings and parables.
And I wonder if the apostle Paul knew a thing or two about "gardening fatigue," (or perhaps "farming fatigue") when he wrote to the Galatian church: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9 - NIV). Other translations express the condition as not fainting, or not losing heart.
Relatively speaking, our time here is a short summer season. In life, as in gardening, we can become weary and discouraged as we confront unknowns, changes, and fluctuating conditions. As gardeners do, we often face overwhelming rain and flood, heat and frost, drought and hail, wind and storms. Not to mention the never-ending fight against the destructive forces that threaten our growth, our thriving, our yield, our very existence.
Care is needed to prevent sin from casting its blight and mildew over the roots that nourish our souls, and over the leaves that reach up to the sun above. And vigilance is required to guard against attackers that threaten to cut off our life-giving sap and stunt our increase.
The good news is, we can turn for help to One who is the ultimate expert. He has already given us fool-proof, infallible information about exactly what we need to flourish: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener… I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing (John 15:1,5).
May we remain in Jesus. And may the God who gives endurance and encouragement (Romans 15:5) help us to persevere to the harvest!
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