Keep Planting Seeds

"I can't want it more than they do"

In ministry, in leadership, or even in every day life, you may have thought this very thing. I have during my time here in Santiago.

We want someone to "wake up" or "snap out" of it.
We want someone to take steps forward.
We want someone to say yes to Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Yet, we can't make it happen. It isn't up to us.

So what can we do?
We can prepare the land.
We can plant the seed.
We can water.

Paul expressed this very truth in his letter to the church in Corinth.

"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave growth." - 1 Corinthians 3:6

God has used Chednaelle to remind me of this truth.

Since the beginning of February, we have been gathering every Friday with our Haitian women and their children. These Haitian women and mothers gather inside the church to worship, fellowship, and hear from God's word.

Outside, their children gather to play, to color, and to hear from God's word as well. Since February, Chednaelle has come to these gatherings, yet she has never wanted to apart of them.

At first, she would sit inside with her mom. No matter how many times we tried to convince her to come outside and join the kids, it was always a no.

After a few weeks, she no longer stayed inside with her mom. She would come outside where the kids were gathered, but she still didn’t want to participate. She would sit away from them and just observe. If anyone tried to integrate her into the group, she’d head back inside to be with her mom.

On May 9th, I saw an answered prayer.
Chednaelle was the first kid sitting at the table, ready for our gathering to start.

From not wanting to be a part of it, to being the first one sitting down—without being asked.

We planted. We watered.
But God gave growth in her.

So what is our job?

Our job isn't to be the one who brings growth.
Our job is to be obedient in planting the seed.
Our job is to be faithful in watering the seed.

Sometimes it looks like our story with Chednaelle.
Sometimes it looks like:

• Praying for someone walking through a hard season.
• Showing up when no one else does.
• Serving in your local church.
• Loving your spouse and kids as Jesus does.
• Asking someone how their day was.
• Telling your co-worker about Jesus.

And the thing is, planting and watering the seed won't always lead to immediate growth... or any growth at all.

We may never see the growth that comes from the seeds we’ve planted.
Some of the seeds we water may die and never grow at all.

However, for a seed to even have a fighting chance, it needs to planted and watered.

Brothers and Sisters, let's not grow weary of planting seeds.
We never know when we too will say, like Paul, "But God gave growth".
Not for applause or for our glory, but for His alone!