When Faithful is Not (Yet) Fruitful
By Elaine Pratt
Amish Friendship bread was the trend back in my younger days as a wife and mom. A Ziploc bag of starter dough (think wallpaper paste) sat on your counter, and every few days you’d knead it, add some flour, and wait until it was ready. Beware the kid who messed with the bag and created a mess of gooey gunk all over the counter! But after ten days, a few key ingredients added, and 55 minutes in the oven, it resulted in a heavenly, moist cinnamon bread that certainly brought you friends if you didn’t already have them and gave a delicious treat to share with the friends you did.
A sticky aspect of our Christian walk is a bit like the process of this baked confection. And if you’re human, breathing, and want to please the Lord, you’ll likely find yourself in this somewhere.
A mom of little ones, leaning into helping them obey, or go to sleep, or go potty, or stop hitting their brother, or biting you!
A loved one burdened and bold, sharing your faith, living a testimony, praying for gospel fruit, repentance, a new heart given to Christ, How long, Lord, as I pray for this person?!
A leader confused, hours invested and prayer petitioned, sacrifice and shepherding, conversation and counsel, Now this one walks away, really?
A parent praying for a child, years of spiritual seed planted, now confused and concerned at the direction and choices of adulthood, heartbroken…
A spouse feels the distance, questions the vow, leans in to be faithful, feels rebuffed and neglected, waning interest and wonders, waits for years, and hope wanes.
A lonely one lamenting, bringing yearnings to the Lord, watching others enjoy what so desperately is desired, To what end, Lord, do I cry to you!?
A wife watches the attack on him she knows is faithful, others brandish assault, intent on insult; he bears the brunt of harsh critics, her heart shatters within.
A weary, tempted one fights on, the bondage seems unbreakable, the enemy so strong, the Savior lingers close, yet it’s SO HARD to break free…
And each one, in a dozen differing ways, asks the same question: what is wrong? Perhaps, what have I done wrong?! Because the fruit of their faith, the outcome of their obedience, the result of their efforts, the ending of their blood, sweat, and tears has come to no end.
Yet.
Oh, tired saint, look away from your long road of suffering and look up. Your Father smiles at your faithfulness, even as He knows the burden of the wait. You are still walking the messy, sticky, gooey days of the yeast mixing with the dough. It is ugly, disillusioning, dormant to visible eyes of any good result. But your faithfulness is NOT without impact. Your obedience is NOT without gain. Your faith, your suffering, your waiting are NOT without notice and outcome.
Sometimes the fruit is different than you would desire, yes. But often, the fruit which God designs is not apparent because it is still only day eight or nine of the sticky dough bag on the counter. Faithful is not (YET) fruitful. It’s not the end of the story yet. Tomorrow is coming.
In the meantime, grab hold of three reminders:
Know your Path – We are the ones who trust and obey; He is the One who brings harvest.
Trust His Timing – We are the ones who labor while it is yet day; He is the One who is not slow to fulfill his promise.
Stay the Course – We are the ones in whom weakness is not a hindrance; He is the One whose strength will shine brightly within it.
He sees. He knows. He says, “What I ask is faithfulness. Leave the rest (and the timing) to me.” Don’t give up. Don’t listen to the enemy’s lies. Trust the process. Better yet, trust the One who holds you fast in the process that He perfectly ordains.
Indeed, the sweet taste and aroma of His final providence defy your wildest imagination. He is working all things for your good and for his glory!
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Be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58
Moreover, it is required of stewards that a man be found faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. James 5:7-9
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