Lessons From the Peach Tree – God’s Seasons
Just as God planned the seasons in nature, He plans the seasons in our lives. Henry Blackaby
It was late winter when I visited the beautiful Cape Dutch farm set in the Franschhoek Valley of the Western Cape. It is always such a privilege to walk through this beautiful garden with its long avenues beckoning one to explore and appreciate the wonders of nature in all its glory. The fruit trees, vegetables, and flowers bear testimony to what the soil can produce when it is nurtured to its full potential. As I walked down one of the avenues, enjoying the winter sun, I was pleasantly surprised to see the peach trees starting to blossom. The beautiful pink blossoms in their stark winter surroundings exuded such promise. The promise of the fruit they were meant to bear in their season. Just like the peach tree, our lives are marked by seasons. There may be seasons in our lives when we are working hard, but we feel barren and dry. We feel our lives are stagnating. We don’t see the fruit of our labour, the assignment God has given us, come to fruition. This is how the exiles who returned from Babylon felt when they were given the assignment to rebuild the temple. But the Lord encourages them with these words spoken through the prophet Zechariah.
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” Zechariah 4:10 (NLT)
Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit
While the exiles were discouraged about the slow progress, God rejoiced when He saw the plumbline in Zerubbabel’s hand because the rebuilding was about to start. God was not in a hurry. He wanted the building to be built carefully and according to His design, and in His power. Not in their own strength or power. The Spirit of the living God would accomplish it (Zechariah 4:6).
When we feel that there is no forward movement in what we are trying to accomplish, we can rest assured that God is at work. He is not relying on our abilities or strength. His Holy Spirit will accomplish the work through us so that the mountains that may be standing in our way are removed. (Zechariah 4:7). Just as He is at work in the peach tree, He is at work in our lives. He sees the plumb line in our hands. He sees the blossoms and will produce His fruit for His kingdom in His appointed season.
As ‘the water of life’, the Spirit makes what is dying and withered living and fertile.” Jürgen Moltmann
Reflection
Are you feeling as if the work of your hand is not accomplishing much? Trust the Lord who orders our lives and brings forth His fruit in His season.
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, that every season of my life is in Your hands. Help me not to do the work You have assigned for me in my own strength, but in the power of Holy Spirit. Help me to wait on Your appointed season to see the fruit of my labour, in Jesus’ name, amen.
