Send to KindleI held a seed in my hand as did each student in class. We discussed how God created it to lay dormant, to be nourished, even in darkness, to have a season, to sprout, to grow and produce. “We can’t look at the seed, wish it to grow or say, ‘Grow seed. Grow,’ and make it grow,” says the 10 year old boy who speaks wisdom.
I think about my blog. I ponder the small size of it, of seeds, how they grow, and the wonder of it all. And I measure my growth in unfollows, unlikes and unsubscribes, yet only God knows what greatness the small beginning will ultimately produce. No earthly standard of measure could tell me that.
“Anyone can count the number of seeds in an apple,
but only God can count the number of apples in a seed.” Robert H. Schuller
So, why do I worry about or try and manipulate my blog’s growth? I must do my part to cultivate, plant, water and let the light shine. Then trust God to do His part. It’s a process, always.
Sometimes, I busy myself making improvements to my blog, and apply myself to developing my craft. I navigate the lines of the world wide web trying to find my place, and I should. Blogs don’t just happen, they take effort. But I cannot neglect the work to prepare my own heart for growth. This is the time of cultivating.
It’s time to dig deeper. I open up and give God unhindered access to shine light on my heart. (2 Cor 4:6, John 3:21) He brings out what was once hidden in darkness, and makes me to be a light-bearer, puts me on a stand and says, “It’s time to shine!” His Son’s light shining bright.
I am devoted to prayer, study, and writing–all soul labor of writing true. I sow the Word-seed into the soil of my heart. (Mark 4:8) I scatter seeds for others–sharing others words, posts and books, giving support, offering grace through words that encourage and giving my time, knowing it’s more blessed to give than receive. This is the time of planting.
And then, I must wait. This is not the time to dig up the seeds. It’s quiet. He is quiet. It’s long, slow and seems like nothing is happening. Yet, God is working behind the scenes beyond my scope, orchestrating the details of my life for His purpose, and continuing the work deep within. Yielding, so that I might yield. This is the darkness of dormancy.
Sometimes, I am parched and starved. I drink deeply of the living water so that it becomes a spring welling up to life eternal. (John 4:14) I feast on the Words of God, to sustain me and to have living bread to offer His sheep. (John 21:17, Matt 4:4) This is the time to be nourished.
And then I see what I hoped for, sprouts and new growth. It’s what I pray for and labor for, but I cannot force. I can only trust God to do His part, while I do mine. He causes the increase. For that, I cannot take the glory. “So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” (1 Cor 3:7 NIV) It is time for the harvest.
No matter where I am in the process, I do not have to wonder how make my blog grow, and neither do you.
Do your part, and “God will make it happen, for He who calls you is faithful.” (1Thess 5:24 NLT)
Michele-Lyn
Michele-Lyn Ault lives in happy chaos with her family on the outskirts of Orlando on 30 acres of Florida country. She is a wife and homeschool mama of four. Michele-Lyn pours out her heart in words, at times courageously afraid, on backlit screen and sometimes her soul bleeds a little as she writes on her blog, A Life Surrendered.
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