Move Forward in the Mystery

“ … you do not know the work of God who makes everything. In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.” (Ecclesiastes 11:5-6)

Before the stem breaks through the soil, we cannot see what happens to the seed beneath.

Likewise, what God does with our good works is a mystery. It is only after years of waiting that we can reflect and see the results.

Some of the seeds we thought would turn into cedars seem buried forever, relegated to obscurity.

Others, scattered on the ground without forethought, become the most effective and expansive kingdom work of our lives. 

The humbling truth is that we cannot plan or predict what will happen to our work. As the wind blows where it wishes, the Spirit of God carries our work in his chosen way at his chosen time.

“He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.” (Ecclesiastes 11:4)

In the mystery, it is tempting to time the market of God’s movement.

But those who “watch the wind” waste countless hours that could have been spent casting more seed.

You can either stare at the ground or sow—but you cannot do both.

A vain preoccupation with results robs precious time from what is valuable: following the Master, putting your hand to the plow, and doing the next best thing.

Keep moving forward in the mystery.

Rise from the worthless watching and reenter the calm, consistent flow of casting with the Spirit. You never know what he will do with the very next seed he sows through you.