Some days I question whether I am making a difference. I wonder if the lessons I am teaching are reaching the kids. It is a hard balance to keep their attention, help them to learn a lesson, and have games and crafts pertaining to the story to help it stick. Often, despite my best efforts, they will walk away remembering the “fun” and not necessarily the lesson. I always think of the parable of the sower from Matthew 13.
“That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
I tell myself that I’m planting seeds. I’m praying that it will fall on good soil, but I know that is not always how it works. There have been so many instances in my life that I have seen God work in people’s lives. It may be suddenly, and sometimes it is YEARS before that seed is fertilized and sprouts. Don’t be afraid to plant seeds. Don’t be discouraged when those seeds fall off the path. I know that it can be frustrating when people that you care about fall away from Jesus. But DO NOT GIVE UP! Continue to pray! Continue to encourage them. God’s timing is perfect and sometimes we have to trust in his timing.
I’m always grateful for opportunities for planting seeds. Last week at VBS we had around 120 kids, and over 50 volunteers. I saw God at work in so many ways! Join me in praying for the little seedlings that they may sprout!