One of my husband’s firefighter friends had a terrible accident a couple of weeks ago, falling 50 feet in a training exercise and suffering traumatic brain injury along with lots of other wounds. One of the crew has been sending out updates on his status as he remained in the hospital and they evaluated spinal cord injuries, brain function, etc. He is on a positive trend, but the wins are so small that you can miss them sometimes. The thing that struck me was the update from the firefighter in which he said that the doctor had told him they need to compare things week-to-week rather than day-to-day. When we examine the wins and losses for one day, it can seem negative or nonexistent. But when we compare where he was a week ago to where he is today, there is a positive trajectory that displays growth and healing.
I think this is true for our lives as well, even if we are not healing from a traumatic brain injury. We can look at one day and believe things are worse, that we have gone downhill, or that we have not experienced any growth. But when we compare things week-to-week, month-to-month or year-to-year, we can begin to see infinitesimal changes that add up to major change over time. God’s call is that we keep coming to Him, over and over again in dependence. He is the One who heals, causes to grow, and brings change. Jesus reminds us that every day is a new beginning, a new day to see His mercy and grace in our lives.
The harvest you reap reveals the seed that you planted. If you plant the corrupt seeds of self-life into this natural realm, you can expect a harvest of corruption. If you plant the good seeds of Spirit-life you will reap beautiful fruits that grow from the everlasting life of the Spirit. And don’t allow yourselves to be weary in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming! Galatians 6:8-9