“Trusting God’s Timing: Don’t Dig Up in Doubt What You Planted in Faith”

Planting Seeds of Faith

It’s almost spring time and everyone who has a plot of land is itching to get plants in the ground and start their garden. The trees have started blooming and thunderstorms have started rolling in. It’s a beautiful time of year where we come out of our winter cocoon and get our hands dirty. So whether you start seeds indoors or plant them directly in the ground, you can understand what I am talking about. It is exciting to see things grow and bloom! It is, however, hard to wait for that last “frost date” and actually ensure that the plants will survive.

The Temptation to Dig Up in Doubt What You Planted in Faith

But what about our faith and our hope during this season? Is it getting stronger or are we getting impatient with God? I was at a women’s conference in Mechanicsville, VA last weekend and something was said that really struck me. The speaker said, “Did you dig up in doubt what you planted in faith?”  Wow! It made me think to myself - am I digging things up before God can do his work in his timing? Am I doubting what is going on under the soil of life? 

In a garden we plant a seed and what happens first is that the root takes off and grows down into the soil to anchor the plant and to ensure that nutrients and water can get to the rest of the plant before it grows. It is vital for the success of the plant for it to happen this way. Without the water and nutrients the beautiful part that pokes above the soil will wither away and die almost immediately. 

What’s Happening Beneath the Surface

Hebrews 11:1 was a scripture that came to mind. You are probably familiar with this one. 

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Confidence and assurance are strong words! And all of this is about what we can’t see. Just like the root that is growing in the garden that we can’t see. We trust that the plant is doing what God designed it to do. But what if we get impatient and dig it up? Do we start to doubt and get impatient? Do we dig up the seed and check on it or do we wait and have patience with God and ourselves? 

Learning to Wait: The Example of Anna

I was reflecting on Bible stories where people had to wait to see the results of what was going on and I remembered the story of Anna the prophetess. In Luke 2 it tells us that she was very old and had only lived with her husband seven years before becoming a widow. At this point she was 84 years old and  “never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying” (vs 37). What was she waiting for so fervently? The Messiah! She was waiting for Jesus. In verse 39 we read that she gave thanks to God and spoke about Jesus to everyone who was looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. She waited for a long time for Jesus to come and was not just waiting - but listening and watching. She heard that Jesus was there and immediately knew what was going on because of her diligence. She didn’t give up, dig up her faith, and leave the temple. On the contrary, she took care of her faith through fasting, praying,and worshiping. In faith she waited for what God had promised. 

We are in the same situation. It might be longer than we realize or expect for a prayer to be answered or a promise to be kept, but God is working it out. The plants grow in God’s timing - the timing he designed them for. One might take longer to germinate than another, but it is part of a grand design for it to grow, bloom, and produce fruit in a certain time. 

Tending the Garden of Your Heart

What are you waiting for? What have you planted in faith that you are tempted to dig up in doubt? What can we do while we are waiting to maintain that faith? Well, when we look at Anna, we get a great example. We need to be in God’s house. Don’t forsake going to church and being in the presence of God and with those that he has put around you in community. Community is not just a good idea - it’s God’s idea! When you are feeling discouraged, tell that community of people you have been blessed with and allow them to encourage you. Another thing we saw Anna do was pray. She probably prayed a lot!

Conversations with God can also build our faith and strengthen us. God can handle our doubt. He can handle you being upset with him and wanting to give up. If you talk to him like you would if he was sitting with you across the table having coffee, you might tell him you are feeling impatient and discouraged. He knows before you tell him, but he longs for that connection and relationship with you through prayer. Tell God about your doubts. We are promised he listens to us and will answer our prayers. 

Finally, we read that Anna was fasting. When was the last time you dedicated a time to fast and pray about your doubts? There is a reason that we are given the examples of people fasting and praying about various things. Especially things that they consider a big deal. If you are taking the time to plant a seed of faith and are praying about it and then feeling doubts, I would say it is worth taking the time and effort to fast about it. Fasting is a way of eliminating distractions so we can focus on being in God’s presence. What better place to be when you are feeling doubt? 

As spring quickly approaches and we prepare our gardens, don’t neglect your heart garden. Don’t get impatient with God. But if you find yourself wanting to dig up those things you have planted in faith, follow Anna’s example and go to God, letting him reassure you that his timing is perfect. 

Father, you are so good. Thank you for allowing us to come to you in prayer when we are doubting. Please help us to be patient with you and trust your timing in all the things in our lives. Be with those who have doubts about your goodness and love. Help us to have your eyes and be patient with your plans, which are always perfect because you have the eternal lens we lack. Thank you for always taking care of us. Amen.