Planting In Faith – What To Do When Doubt Creeps In

Faith is a funny thing.

We base our life choices on faith, yet it is so very mysterious.

For the very concrete and practical, faith can seem whimsical or silly. For the devout, it can lead to dangerous self-righteousness or a humble pursuit of deeper understanding.

By its very definition, faith involves invisible things. It is a knowledge that even though I cannot physically see what I put my faith in, I know without a doubt that it is present.

Faith-Full Planting

Since Spring is coming soon on the farm, it’s time to start thinking about tilling up the cold ground and planting seeds in hopes of a bountiful harvest in a few short months. Since I am not the farmer of Harmony Farms, but simply an observer of the real farmer, I can only make assumptions based on what I see. But I can honestly say I have never seen my farmer plant a seed, then dig it up to see why it is not sprouting. Even I know that’s ridiculous.

A farmer plants seeds in faith, knowing that even though he cannot see the progress that is unfolding underground, there will eventually be sprouting and growing of that single seed. Sure, he works to make sure the soil is healthy. He weeds the garden area to facilitate growth. But I’ve never seen my farmer dig up a seed in order to check on its progress.

Is it possible that the farmer may have doubts about the success of his seed planting? I’m sure a doubt may creep in here and there. But the solution to the doubt is not to dig up the seed. The solution to the doubt is to wait, pray, work, but NOT to unearth the original seed.

Real Life Seed Planting

This idea of digging up seeds has me thinking. Could this apply to all areas of life? What seeds do we plant in faith?

Perhaps you have planted seeds of faith in your children that you are patiently waiting to sprout. You nurture, weed, prune, and water. But you are still waiting for a tiny sign of spiritual life. Or maybe your seed has sprouted and grown, but has since begun to look unhealthy and is not producing the intended fruit. Don’t dig up the seed. Keep nurturing and feeding and watering and praying. Growth is still possible.

Or maybe you have planted a seed in your heart to begin to fulfill a dream you have always had. You’ve taken the necessary steps to set the stage for that dream to become reality, but you are just waiting. Staring at the ground in hopes that a little sprout will appear, showing progress and life for your dream.  I encourage you to keep nurturing that dream. Feed and water it. Pray over it. Work hard to accomplish it. Don’t stop too soon. The only way that dream will die is if you dig up the seed.

I encourage you to look back at why you planted those seeds in the first place. Those seeds were planted in faith. They were planted, knowing that in some way and in time they would come to be. Don’t let doubt take over the faith that you humbly started with. Stick with what you knew when you planted the seeds.

Don’t Dig Up In Doubt What you Planted in Faith. There is too much at stake.

 

What seeds have you planted that have grown fully? What seeds are you still waiting on?

 

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, remembering that as members of the same body you are called to live in harmony, and never forget to be thankful for what God has done for you.

Colossians 3:15