Growing in grace reminds me of my first gardening experience. I had never gardened before, but that didn’t stop me from having dreams and expectations of a great harvest. I read every gardening magazine I could get my hands on through the winter months. I plotted my plans on scratch paper, purchased a variety of seeds, studied soil types and visited the garden store. Finally, spring was here. I tilled the ground and made perfect rows measured and remeasured. With great care, I plated each seed. I watered morning and evening. Hours were spent outside with my hands in the dirt and dreams of harvest on my mind.

And then I waited, and I waited. It seemed like I waited for weeks when in reality it was only hours that had lead to days.

Three Surprising Tips to Master Patience

1. Grow in Grace
2. Faith in His ability is more than trusting the process; it’s trusting our Creator.
3. Cultivate Gratitude

Learn to rest on your hoe while growing in grace

In my impatience, I took my hand shovel, went outside, and started digging up each seed I had planted. Yes, you read that right. I dug my seeds up before they sprouted. I observed that some of the seeds had “long stringy things” so I discarded them as rotten. There were other times when I tiled the rows from weeds when in reality I was removing my brand new seedlings. My mother in law would later tell me, “Jeanette, you need to learn to rest on your hoe.” She continued her conversation, over tea, explaining the importance of waiting while gardening. Over the years, I learned to enjoy this waiting process. The lessons from my garden have been numerous.

It’s not only gardening that requires patience, is it?

Today, I am reminded of 2 Peter 3:18

“Grow in Grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

Have you ever been impatient with growth in your life? Growth can look messy like those sprouting seeds. There are times when we are tempted to discard the process of growth. Times when we are impatient with the growth and blind to our progress. I’m sure that is why we were given this reminder from Philippians.

Faith in His ability is more than trusting the process; it’s trusting our Creator.

Whenever I hear someone tell me, “trust the process” it makes me cringe. I don’t normally trust processes. Consider the DMV, do you trust their process? I know I don’t. or what about the court system do you trust their process? We’d like to right? But the reality is I don’t. However, when I put my faith in God’s ability then the process is nothing more than the journey I must travel. If there’s anything I’ve learned in my 50 years of life, it’s that I can be confident in Him, His abilities, and His plan for my life- even when it’s difficult.

Philippians 1:6

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Php 1:6). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Cultivate Gratitude

To allow grace to grow in our lives we must cultivate gratitude. Removing weeds of complacency, doubt, fear, and entitlement and instead cultivate gratitude, remembering His faithfulness and goodness toward us.

Psalm 107:1 

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: For his mercy endureth forever.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ps 107:1). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

I need to remember my mother in laws words and apply them to my spiritual life. Resting on my “hoe” is essential. Resting allows the grace that God has planted to grow at His pace and not my own.  With grateful hearts, let us be confident that He alone will complete the good work He has begun. If you’re on a journey of growing in grace don’t miss my post, “Grace in the Wilderness.” 

Until our next chat.

Mrs. Joseph Wood

P.S. Totally random, but If you’re a garden lover (or maybe you’re just like me and enjoy playing in the dirt) go to my friend’s site and purchase your heirloom garden seeds. You’ll find a beautiful assortment, high-quality seed and be supporting a lovely family in the process!