We Never Know

“Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.”—Ecclesiastes 11:6 NASB

Looking back, a former army chaplain recalled a particularly challenging time in his life when he experienced an unusual level of stress. He recalled struggling with his faith and understanding of the Scriptures. There seemed to be little fruit from his ministry.

As a result, he was surprised by the comments of a man with whom he had not spoken in years. The man described the impact the chaplain had on his life and how blessed he had been by his ministry, his teaching, and his example.

The chaplain realized this had been during a time when he had struggled spiritually, and he did not feel fruitful, or that he was having any meaningful impact. He realized God had used him despite his weaknesses. He learned that God works in ways we may never understand.

The Bible reminds us that we never really know the impact of our lives or what other people are going through. We must be careful not to base our conclusions on our feelings. The reality is that God can use us regardless of how we feel and our perspective.

This truth is expressed in many ways. One way is that we are to sow seeds all the time, for we never know “whether morning or evening sowing will succeed.” We are to trust God continually, being faithful to fulfill our calling, trusting Him to bless our efforts and bring about the harvest in His time.

Reflection Question: Where are you sowing your seed this week?