Yielding Fruit in Due Season

God has really been testing me recently with working hard when there seems to be no apparent reward in sight. Sometimes we feel like we "work, work, work" and all we get is criticism. Sometimes the effort we put in doesn't seem to show. It's frustrating when all we feel is disapproval when we've been giving it all we've got.

A verse in Psalm 1 really caught my attention while reading it earlier. It says that "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season." Often times I feel like the farmer waiting for the fruit to blossom on the crop. I've planted, watered, kept care of and slaved over my crop and now I want my reward. Sometimes storms come and impact the crop, but if their roots are deep they will remain grounded even through the worst of times. It's the same with our life- often times we feel like we've worked and put so much effort in and now we're waiting anxiously to get our reward. Sometimes it seems like the storms of life keep knocking us down and it's hard to rise up after feeling so weak from all that life throws at us; but if we rely on God and seek His strength He will be our strong "roots" in times of trouble.

In Psalm 1 it also mentioned that "He is like a tree planted by streams of water." I thought this was neat because it reminds me that we are planted right next to a resource- a supply. I like to think that the stream of water is God. He is our resource and our supply when we are lacking strength. He is the one that keeps us strong and keeps us alive. There are many days that I feel like I'm using up all the water in the stream because I am lacking everything within me. But the thing is, we can never even begin to use up all the water in the stream because God supplies an over-abundant amount of provision for us.

So if you are feeling weak and like you're about to give up- just remember that you will yield your fruit in due season. It will be worth the wait when you receive all that you have worked for. Don't give up yet. It may seem like the harvest will never come, but it's right around the corner. You will be rewarded for all that you've done- nothing will go unnoticed. All the overlooked effort and criticism you have received will be made right. Don't let what others do to you define how you view yourself.

Keep working hard because when harvest time comes your life will be bursting forth with the fruit of your labor. Know that not one second is overlooked.