Rev. Larry Mancini is this week’s guest writer. He pastors a church on Long Island. The title of his devotional is “Seeds,” but it is really about patience—the patience we all need when we pray. This comes to you with the anticipation that God has already heard the prayers you voiced today, and help is on the way. Soon. TB

 

Seeds

Larry Mancini

 

"Let us not become weary in doing good for we will reap a harvest in due season

 if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)

 

My granddaughter, Emma, was over Saturday afternoon. We had decided in advance to plant some seeds together. We put the soil in the planters and the seeds in the soil; and then we watered them. Five minutes later she tracked me down to announce, “They aren't up yet, Poppa!" I explained it takes time for seeds to grow. She waited about half an hour and gave me the same announcement. Finally I explained, "It will be a very long time until we see the plants pop up, but they will come."

Waiting for answers to prayer is not easy. Looking for results from our labor can take time. Planting seeds, watering them, and then waiting for them to grow—this is our job. It is God who gives them life and causes them to grow. His ways are not our ways and His timing is not ours. He makes all things beautiful in His time—not ours. There are lessons that take a lifetime to fully learn. Like the person who prayed, "LORD, I want patience, and I want it now!" we are like my sweet granddaughter Emma. We expect things to happen quickly, and then we are disappointed when they don’t.

I have to confess that when it comes to answers to prayer, I am more like Emma than I care to admit. I look for the seed to pop up when I should rest and leave it in the Lord’s hands. As the words of the familiar song read, “O what needless pain we bear!”

I watered the seeds this morning; I even moved the tray into direct sunlight during the day hours. It won't be long now. Soon Emma and I will be rejoicing over the new plants that will be ready to be transplanted in the backyard in a few months.

 

Heavenly Father, I confess that when I pray, I want answers. I want to be assured that my waiting will not be in vain. This week has been particularly stressful. I have worked and prayed and waited, but the results have been disappointing. Help me not to give up. Help me to regroup over the weekend. Prepare me to go back to my workplace on Monday with a new vision, a new enthusiasm for the calling you have given me to fulfill. In the Savior’s Name I pray. Amen.