423. Does It Seem Pointless?

“Stan,” I said, “you have mentioned that you spend a lot of time with others trying to help them in their journey towards spiritual maturity.”

“That’s right,” Stan replied.  “I do.  Over the years I have spent uncounted hours with a lot of different people.”

“All with good results?” I asked.

“Depends on what you mean by that,” Stan replied.

Continuing, he said, “The results are not up to me.  They are up to God.  My role is to be faithful and obedient in doing what God has for me to do.  God will do what He wants to do with what He has for me to do.”

“But,” I responded, “if you can’t see any good results with someone, doesn’t that make you feel that what you are doing is pointless?” 

“Only,” Stan replied, “when I fall into the trap of thinking I can make a difference on my own.”

“If I follow what God has for me to do, I am able to take to heart what the apostle Paul wrote in his first letter to the church in Corinth about knowing that my work for the Lord is not in vain.”

“But don’t you ever get discouraged when people don’t respond the way you hope?”

“Of course,” Stan replied.  “But then all I have to do is look at the best example I know to remember that seeds don’t always spring up into fruit as soon as they are planted.”

“What example is that?” I asked.

“Your’s truly,” Stan said with a smile.  “It took a long time for the seeds of the truth to grow in me.  But they did eventually, all in God’s perfect timing and for His purposes.”

Concluding, Stan said, “How quickly, or even if, the people I seek to help mature in their faith is not up to me.  If I focus on it being up to me, I may well see what I am doing as being pointless.  That is what Satan wants.  What God wants is my faithfulness in doing what He has for me to do.  Do it and leave the results to Him!”

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Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.  1 Corinthians 15:58.

Prayer:  Thank you, Father, for the work you have for me to do.  I confess that too often I view what I am doing as being done for me, rather than for you.  I get discouraged in not seeing results.  Please forgive me.  And please open me to know that my role is to be faithful and obedient in what you have for me to do, knowing that the results are up to you.  Please help me in being patient in knowing that the seeds that are planted grow only in accord with your will, not mine.  Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus.  Amen.