There are seasons for everything. When a farmer decides to grow a crop, he plans his steps and then takes action. First he prepares the soil by plowing and tilling up the hardened, fallow ground. Then he plants the right kind of seed that he wants to grow. After that, he tends the field and makes sure to water and fertilize the plants so they can flourish. Over time, the farmer can then harvest what has grown and matured. If the farmer gets any one of these steps out of order, he can severely hinder or ruin the crop from yielding the maximum amount of fruit it’s capable of in it’s perfect season. Timing is everything. And just like in planting and harvesting of crops, God places dreams in our heart and wants to bring them to pass at just the right time. The key is to understand what season we are in.
It’s interesting that throughout the Book of John, it’s recorded that Jesus wasn’t arrested because His time had not yet come, even though the religious leaders and Pharisees tried their best to detain and kill him.
John 7:30 NLT
“Then the leaders tried to arrest Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His time had not yet come.”
Again, we see in another passage:
John 8:20 NLT
“Jesus made these statements while He was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But He was not arrested, because His time had not yet come.”
And again:
John 8:58-59 NLT
“Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I am!’ At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.”
The season for Jesus to fulfill His purpose on the earth, which was to die on a cross for the sin of the world, had not yet come, so the doors to make that happen kept closing.
However, we eventually read through the Scriptures that His time did come for Him to die for the sins of mankind. Jesus knew what season He was in every step of the way.
John 12:23 NLT
“Jesus replied, ‘Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory.’”John 13:31 NLT
“As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, ‘The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him.’”
God’s timing is perfect. We can trust Him to bring to pass the dreams in our hearts, just like He orchestrated Jesus’ steps to fulfill His purpose. For some of you, your season of harvest isn’t now. God is still growing and maturing you. He has spoken a dream in your heart and He is asking you to be patient because now is NOT the right time. There are lessons you still need to learn that are preparing you for your harvest season. Be patient. Again, God’s timing is perfect!
But, there are others of you that NOW IS THE TIME for the promise God put in your heart to come to pass. The season is right. The harvest time is now. God is speaking to you to start the business, to go to seminary school, to launch a church, to go on the mission field. Now is the time for marriage, to write the book God has been putting on your heart for years. Now is the time to start saving, to have kids, to mend that relationship that has been damaged and broken. Now is the time. It will take faith and trust in God to step into your God-given destiny. The righteous shall live by faith. The key is to continue to step into the direction you know God is compelling you to go in. When we do, God will open doors no man can shut. He will do the impossible and we will step back and be amazed at His goodness and faithfulness. Now is the time!
Questions to ponder:
What season are you in right now?
If you are in a season of waiting, what is God trying to teach you in your current season?
If now is your time for harvest, what is God asking of you?
How can you take steps of obedience to step into your harvest?
