March 25
Recognizing
the Signs
"You pretenders! You know how to understand the appearance of the earth and the sky. Why can’t you understand what is happening right now?"
Luke 12:56 (NIrV)
Jimmy had been farming his family’s land for over two decades. It was his calling, a legacy passed down through generations. But this year, things had taken a devastating turn. Unseasonal rains followed by an intense drought had wiped out most of his crops. The fields, once lush and green, were now barren, cracked by the unrelenting sun. Jimmy sat on his porch, staring at the fields and feeling the weight of impending financial ruin pressing down on him.
“Why, Lord?” he whispered, his voice choked with despair. “I’ve done everything I was supposed to. I’ve worked hard, followed the forecasts, and cared for this land. What am I missing?”
Jimmy’s wife, Clara, gently approached with a cup of coffee. “Jimmy, you can’t keep blaming yourself. Maybe this is something bigger, something we need to see with faith, not just reason.”
Her words struck a chord, but Jimmy couldn’t shake his frustration. He had always relied on his knowledge of the weather and farming techniques. Yet, as he looked back over the year, he realized he had ignored signs—warnings from fellow farmers, subtle shifts in the climate, and even moments in prayer where he’d felt uneasy about planting too much of a single crop.
That evening, he sat with his Bible, flipping through the pages aimlessly until his eyes landed on Luke 12:56. As he read, conviction gripped his heart. He had been so focused on his expertise and the physical signs of the weather that he had neglected to discern what God might be teaching him in this season.
Jimmy knelt by his bedside. “Lord, I’ve been blind to what You’re doing. I thought I could control everything if I just worked hard enough. Help me to see with spiritual eyes, to trust Your plan even when it doesn’t make sense.”
In the following weeks, Jimmy began to see things differently. Instead of wallowing in despair, he reached out to other farmers, sharing resources and learning from their experiences. He diversified his crops and invested in soil restoration, not just to recover financially but to steward the land God had entrusted to him.
Most importantly, Jimmy’s perspective shifted. He began to see every trial, every failure, as an opportunity to lean on God and seek His wisdom. The fields might not have been as fruitful as before, but Jimmy’s faith had deepened in ways he never imagined.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for being patient with us when we fail to see what You are doing in our lives.
Forgive us for relying too much on our own understanding and not seeking Your guidance.
Help us to discern the signs of Your work and to trust You, even in difficult seasons.
Thank You for the lessons You teach us through trials and for always providing a way forward.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
