Do Not Despair

OPENING PRAYER. . .Loving God, Creator of all that is, here I am--today in this place that you have given me, with all the senses you have given me. Help me to use them to experience you on a deeper level. May I experience you all around me, open me to know more of your ways and know that your goodness surrounds me. Thank you for this time to be with you, to be still and to just listen. Amen

LISTEN:  The Sower and the Seed. . . "As they went from town to town, a lot of people joined in and traveled along. He addressed them, using this story: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. Some of it fell on the road; it was tramped down and the birds ate it. Other seed fell in the gravel; it sprouted, but withered because it didn’t have good roots. Other seed fell in the weeds; the weeds grew with it and strangled it. Other seed fell in rich earth and produced a bumper crop." (Luke 8:4-8)

CONSIDER:  The scripture continues with His disciples asking, “Why did you tell this story?”  He said, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom—you know how it works. There are others who need stories. But even with stories some of them aren’t going to get it: Their eyes are open but don’t see a thing,  Their ears are open but don’t hear a thing."
It has been suggested that this parable is really about Jesus teaching about despair. Jesus has already been kicked out of the synagogues. All the religious leaders are against him. And he knew that eventually the Disciples would be disheartened. Jesus goes on to tell them, "Every farmer knows that some of his seed will be lost; it cannot all grow. But that doesn't discourage him or make him stop sowing, because he knows that in despite of it all, the harvest is sure." 

SO WHAT:  We all have our setbacks and our discouragements; we all have our enemies and our opponents; but never despair, in the end. . . when it's all been said and done. . . the harvest is sure. In the end, God will triumph over all the setbacks and discouragements that we encounter in our lives. Sometimes we think that we are the only ones to experience discouragement in our lives, but Jesus knew that there would be times when things would not go our way. . . when our life faces the bumps and bruises that come with living. . . Jesus knew discouragement. . . Jesus knew what it was like to have people against you. . .Jesus knew and wanted to not only prepare the disciples, but prepare us as well. We need to be like the farmer, knowing that we are going to keep sowing our seeds even if some fall on thorny, hard or shallow ground. . .despite it all, nothing can defeat the ultimate harvest of our God!

PRAYER: Loving and gracious God, help me to not despair when I encounter setbacks. Teach me to be like the farmer and never let me stop sowing seeds of faith. Help me to see your glory. Amen.