I have definitely been shown in the past half century that I am NOT in control of my life! Most situations in my life have not had the outcome that I expected.
The most recent example of this is what has occurred in my family over the past 6 weeks. Next fall, we will only have 3 members of our family living here in our 5 bedroom home. My oldest 2 children will be off to college and that will leave just myself, my husband and youngest daughter for the next 3 years. Of course this could change in the drop of a hat, because as I stated in the first sentence…we are not in control of our lives. That being said, we have been considering “downsizing”. As this discussion became more prominent in our daily talks, we have had 2 different families, out of the blue, contact us about selling our house. I have spent countless hours cleaning and organizing to have the house “show ready”. Each time the people looked at our house we got very positive feedback. Then it was the waiting process. In the first 24-48 hours it seemed like both families looking were going to take the plunge and purchase our house. This began the excitement and thinking of all that we need to do to get ready to move and find a place to live. Lots of emotions take place in this time frame. Then, after we were at peace with moving, the people come back to say they are going to “Pass” on our house. And…just like that, the planning, dreaming, and excitement are over. We must go back to our normal day to day lives and be content with where we are planted (literally).
During this process we think we knew what the situation would be and even through praying we think we know how God is answering and what is going to happen in the future. Then, it all changes! Just proving to us that we are not in control!
Our parable for today demonstrates how I feel about what we have been enduring over the past month or so. I continue to ask, “where are you god?” “what are you doing in my life, Lord?”
Today we read The Parable of the Growing Seed in Mark 4:26-29
26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain-first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
If we can’t control our own lives, how much more true is that about the kingdom of God??? This parable reminds me (which I need on a daily basis) that I am dependent on God’s grace and mercy. God will bring the kingdom in His good time, even though I don’t know how or when.
I have no idea if our house will sell (it is not even on the market), but God does. Even as I sleep, He is working and moving.
This parable gives us freedom. It reminds us that we are not ultimately responsible for bringing in the kingdom…God is. God is both faithful and trustworthy. This does not mean that we can go about our days without God, we have a role to play. Even though the farmer may not know how the seed grows, he is called to plant, to wait, and to harvest. So also, you and I are called to participate in the kingdom even though it is beyond our comprehension or control. It is not our job to bring it all about, God tells us here in this parable that He will make the harvest happen. But while we wait for the harvest, we are to continue to scatter seed and know that God is at work. It does not all depend on Us! Thank YOU, Lord that we can trust that You will bring the seed to sprout and grow, it is not up to us to make this happen.
As for me, I am reminded that my belief in God gives me freedom. Because I have put my faith and trust in Him, I can sleep at night not knowing how situations will turn out, but KNOWING that He already KNOWS and in His time, His ways will be revealed to me.
Also read Psalm 105