God's Garden - Pt. 5

 

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” (Isaiah 55:9-13 ESV).

 

We live in Parker County, Texas. It is known for its peach production. What many people do not know is the reason it is such a good area for peaches. The weather and soil seem just right for the growth of this wonderful fruit. You see, like all deciduous trees, peach trees lose their leaves in the fall and become dormant; however, the process continues as winter continues. During this time the trees enter a period called “rest.” It’s a deep dormancy where a short spurt of warm weather won’t be enough to “wake” the tree up. The cold requirement for peach trees is dependent on this period of rest. Peaches need the cold so that the buds that were set the previous summer will bloom and thus produce fruit. And, believe me, that fruit is yummy!

 

Snow and cold are not things we would normally think as necessary for growing fruit. In fact, most of the time we think of winter as a waste of time, merely a time of waiting for the return of spring so that gardens and orchards could flourish again. Isaiah points us in this different direction too, in the picture he paints through our reading today. We need watering too, as God’s plantings. Warm rain and cold snow are both part of God’s watering program for a rich harvest. The watering of his Word is sometimes warm and comforting. In other seasons his Word may be more like snow that chills and challenges us to rest in his higher thoughts and purposes.

 

Perhaps you are in such a time. Reconsider this thought from God’s Word. What seems cold and desolate is really a necessary part of the continued growth and production of fruit in your life. Trust God to do the work of production in your life. He desires nothing but the best for you!