Do It Today—Don’t Wait for Everything to be Perfect

We just returned from a working vacation, a time to get away from responsibilities here on the home front and be challenged and encouraged in my reading, writing, and studying. However, before we could leave, the garden needed attention! We had to weed around the tomatoes and beets and hill up the green beans.

In the process of weeding, we noticed an appalling scarcity in both the cucumber and squash rows. Should I replant now?
Wait until we return from our trip?
Admit defeat and settle for a smaller crop?

In the end, I decided to replant. I put down more seeds in the empty spaces, watered them well, and then closed the garden gate. I knew that we would not be here to water the seeds or tend to the garden at all. We took the risk of sowing when the seed might be blown away or washed out in a summer rainstorm.

One great gift of gardening is the constant affirmation of how little control we actually have over the successful sprouting of our garden seeds—and of everything we “sow” in this life.

One great gift of gardening is the constant affirmation of how little control we actually have over the successful sprouting of our garden seeds—and of everything we “sow” in this life.

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Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes from a mournful state of mind, but the Spirit guided him into some good words for gardeners:

He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap… 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 11:4,6)

I could have waited until we returned from our trip to replant, a choice that would have enabled me to “observe the wind” and “regard the clouds” every single day. Even so, I would still not have been in control of the seed-growing process. And I am not in control of many things, including the results of my writing, parenting, or teaching.

Upon returning from our travels, I was delighted to find tiny squash seedlings pushing their way through the garden soil. This invitation in Ecclesiastes to “withhold not my hand” tells me, “Get on with it!” It is a push toward risk for this exceedingly careful woman.

God’s freeing words insist that I change my questions:

“What if it doesn’t work?” becomes “What if God grants success?”
“What if I fail?” becomes “What can God accomplish here?”
“What if it’s embarrassing?” can be safely reframed as “This is not about me.”

In our praying, in our ministry, in our service to others, may we never allow our perfectionistic tendencies to interfere with sowing our seed. Don’t wait for the ideal time to make the phone call, send the text, share the gospel, or write the article. Strike while the iron is cold—and then trust God for the harvest.

Holding You in the Light,

Don’t wait for the ideal time to make the phone call, send the text, share the gospel, or write the article. Strike while the iron is cold—and then trust God for the harvest.

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Grief comes to everyone sooner or later, and whether it’s the death of a loved one or the loss of some cherished aspect of our life or identity, God’s Word is crucial for grieving well. Past hurts have a habit of snagging our hearts in unexpected moments, but God provides abundant grace to help the believer move through grief without getting stuck and without wasting the opportunity to walk more closely with the Lord who lightens our darkness.

As you know, I’m committed to the truth that women can become confident followers of God and students of his Word, and it’s my goal to help you along that path. At Living Our Days, I provide biblical content and resources to encourage biblical literacy and faithful living, and now I’m sharing devotional content on the YouVersion app. Visit my profile page to get free access to all the reading plans!

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