The Joy of Abundant Harvest

I’m so grateful for many of you who joined me for my series, Meeting God in the Garden. Today is my final post in the series.

The Joy of Abundant Harvest

Isn’t the harvest worth all the work when it comes to gardening? Every step prepares for the end result. All the planning, cultivating, planting, watering, weeding, and pruning leads up to that first taste of freshness, which compares with nothing else.

That mouthwatering sweetness of cantaloupe. That piquant acidity of tomatoes. That crisp snap of fresh peas. Not even the best grocery store produce can compare with the perfect freshness from your own garden.

If you’ve ever tasted a homegrown strawberry compared to a grocery store item, you know what I mean. The same goes for tomatoes. It’s as if you’re not eating the same thing–that’s how different the taste profile can be. No wonder farmers’ markets have gained in popularity. People are beginning to understand that fresh wins over convenient and prepackaged, every time.

Psalm 34:8 reads, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” This life he gives us is full of good things, and I’m so grateful he makes a colorful, tasty, abundant life possible. A taste of life with God compares with nothing else the world has to offer.

The Harvest Fields of Heaven

In those late summer days when I’m processing quart after quart of ripe tomatoes, I meditate on God’s abundant provision. He provides so much from one tiny seed. And each fruit holds more seeds to continue the process of fruitfulness.

I find joy in this knowledge. All this work we do here on earth, all this living, is in preparation for heaven. It’s difficult and challenging, full of thorns and thistles. It’s a constant struggle. Yet through it all, God is planting eternity in our hearts. He is planting seeds of blessing all along the way, and helping us share more seeds in our words and actions.

Imagine the harvest fields in heaven. We will finally see the results of all the planting and cultivating here, the many times we’ve planted seeds without even realizing it. We will then see how God has been using everything we’ve done. Consider this verse:

So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.

1 Corinthians 3:7-8 NIV

Waiting for the Harvest

We are simply planting and watering here. We don’t have a full view of the harvest. Yet God will show us someday. We will receive our rewards and taste the good life God has waiting for us, as we walk in faithfulness.

Meditating on the harvest in heaven brings me joy. It sustains me through trying seasons here on earth. I can’t taste or see the full harvest now. I only receive glimpses here and there, through feedback from family, friends, and my readers. Yet I trust that God is making things grow that I cannot even see. My job is to be faithful with planting and watering, trusting that God will reap a great harvest for his glory, through my work.

Questions for reflection:

How does God provide freshness in your life, compared to what the world offers?

Which joy of abundant harvest can you celebrate now?

How does the idea of the harvest in heaven bring you joy?

The Joy of Abundant Harvest

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