Megan Evans, Women’s Ministry Director, LHBC
Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (NLT)
3 When clouds are heavy, the rains come down.
Whether a tree falls north or south, it stays where it falls.
4 Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant.
If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.
5 Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.
6 Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.
Are you a risk taker? Are you adventurous? Did you know that these qualities can be good in the life of a disciple? In the space between carelessness and missed opportunity is the sweet spot of stepping out in faith.
God is fun; He’s not boring at all. And when we are walking daily with the Lord, our life with Him won’t be either. Are you ready for this…God wants us to take a few risks in this life. If that’s a scary thought then be encouraged, we don’t do it alone. The Holy Spirit is guiding and teaching us.
Unlike foolishness, stepping out in faith in God involves wisdom, prayer, and intentionality. We trust not in ourselves, but in the Lord instead, and we desire to bring God glory through the choices and decisions we make.
Each day offers opportunity and adventure, but fear and inactivity can keep the harvest empty. As humans, we often find comfort in visible assurances. For example, Ecclesiastes 11:3 tells us that when we see dark and heavy clouds, we can expect and prepare for rain. But we can’t spend our life watching the sky for the perfect day. Verse 4 states that “farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant.”
Solomon reminds us throughout the book of Ecclesiastes that life is short. He also reminds us in Ecclesiastes 11: 5 that we don’t get to understand the activity of God. He is God and we are not—but Oh, that this Almighty God would engage with us and invite us in to be a part of His great work in this world. He is still very much moving in this world today, and He is still stirring hearts around us! Do you resist or welcome His movement?
We can always prepare more, practice more, study more, but the harvest will always be empty unless we get out there and plant a seed or two! Only God is perfect. And as we step out in faith, we have to trust Him with the outcome. We don’t know which seeds will be profitable, so as verse 6 reminds us, we never stop sowing. Adventure sometimes means the outcome is not what we expected. Sometimes we will fall and we fail, but we also learn and grow, and that is another area of mystery in God’s ways.
There is never a “perfect” time for ministry, to join a church, or go on a mission trip. It is not often convenient to love, give, or serve. There’s not a perfect day to reach out to a friend or neighbor. There is never a “perfect” time to change careers, go back to school, or move to a new city. There will always be countless reasons that tell us to wait and keep watching the sky. Step out in faith today!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father God, Your ways are wonderful and I trust you today, even when visibility is unclear. I pray for wisdom and boldness in the areas you are calling me to step out in faith. Help me plant a small seed today in obedience. Move in this city and stir the hearts of its people to follow You. In Jesus Name, Amen.
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.