Sweet Peppers and Faith

One December, I finally started a project that I had intended to get to for several months: backyard gardening. I had my dirt, my containers, and my sweet pepper seeds. I was so excited to finally get started! I got to work filling my containers with dirt and planting my sweet pepper seeds. I was excited yet apprehensive because I didn’t know how they’d turn out. As I went out some mornings to water them, I began to wonder when they’d start growing, whether they would actually grow, and when I’d see the first plant. In my mind, I could already see myself picking sweet peppers.

Maybe big ones or small ones. I wasn’t too fussy. I just didn’t enjoy the anxiety during the waiting period. I wanted to see some growth very soon.

I started to do some research to determine how long it should take before any seedlings would appear. This is how I sometimes feel and act when I ask God for something. I have planted a spiritual seed of faith in something, and I want to see it fulfilled —quickly. I sometimes feel anxious and am frustrated and impatient waiting for the results. I just want to see it happen! Why is it taking so long? I wonder.

Doesn’t God know that I need this thing or that I need to get to this place or attain this goal to feel more fulfilled and happy? Of course, God knows everything. He knows things that I don’t know, and He definitely knows what is best for me.

Sometimes, waiting is what is best. I imagine that just as my anxiety to get to picking sweet peppers from my garden would not make them grow any faster, my anxiety for God to fulfill my requests will not let them happen any faster either.

It might only make the wait frustrating and strenuous.

Instead, I can make the wait productive by doing all I can to facilitate the growth of my peppers. I can ensure they have a conducive environment for growth and leave the rest to God. Now that sounds like a good recipe not just for sweet peppers but for whatever we might be waiting for from God.

Mirian Taylor