by Dionna Linn, a Quest apprentice raising support to go to Spain
Considering the Fields
What words come to mind when you think of harvest? I don’t know about you, but the words that I have always associated with harvest are: bounty, reaping, culmination, multiplication, gathering, thanksgiving, etc.
That is, until this year. You may not know this, but this year has been extremely trying, particularly for farmers in this area.
In a recent conversation I had with my friend who is a farmer, he told me that in 55+ years of farming, he has never had to replant as many crops as we did this year. In fact, farmers have joked about coining the term three-plant as several fields had to be replanted not twice, but three times.
Not only was the sprin
You may not know this, but this year has been extremely trying, particularly for farmers.
g wet, but the summer brought weeks of too much rain followed by weeks of borderline drought. To add to it all, abundant and unusual fall rains continue to slow harvest down and add to the difficulty of working in wet fields.
Take each of these elements into account and you end up with a harvest associated more so with words like frustration, waiting, patience, and disappointment.
Experiencing this firsthand has caused me to ponder, pray, and pursue lessons for learning.
Joy and Surrender
In my searching, two themes have surfaced: joy and surrender. The first, joy, is something I have found so beautifully exemplified in the lives of my farmer friend’s family.
If you were to visit the farm on any given day this fall, I can almost guarantee you would notice joy among each of the men working, and you probably wouldn’t know how difficult this season has been.
As each of us know, joy is a choice. So how does a farmer choose to be joyful when the harvest is difficult?
That leads to the second word: surrender. Though they work hard and do everything within their control to produce healthy crops, many factors are out of a farmer’s control. Surrendering these aspects keeps their eyes set on the one who IS in control.
Life Application
Joy is a choice. So how does a farmer choose to be joyful when the harvest is difficult?
As I transition from working in the fields to being on the mission field, I am grateful for these lessons I have learned.
In many ways, the current state of Spain mirrors this year’s harvest.
Frustration at the hardness of people’s hearts, patience in relationship building, waiting for spiritual breakthroughs, and at times disappointment with rejection.
Just as the farmers here have taught me, my responsibility is to work diligently on the things I can control, but remember to surrender the things I cannot.
And I must choose joy.
A wise farmer chooses joy knowing that each year is unlike any other, therefore, if this year is difficult, a better one is sure to come.
My prayer is that I would remember this lesson on the mission field. I know God’s heart is to redeem and reconcile the world to Himself.
May my default be joy, my work be diligent, and my mind be set on the bountiful harvest that will come in due time.
Want to help Dionna pursue joy and surrender in Spain? Give online.
