Life is in circles
Round and round it goes
Today you may be up
Tomorrow to be down.
Life is in phases
Turn by turn it goes
Today you may have
Tomorrow you may not.
God gave us two hands
So we can learn to lend
To bear one another’s burdens
To be there for the other
As our lives revolve in turns.

I think one of the biggest lessons of my life is that God’s Word always prove true. No matter the oppositions and contradictions, nothing stands the test of time like the Word of God. Our help is in His hands, so also our seasons. He has appointed appropriate timings for everyone and for everything. A time to sow and a time to reap.

I have lived through years where all I did was sow seeds. I gave everything I had because I knew that was what God wanted me to do. I identified fertile grounds and was glad to meet genuine needs. I gave because I believe in God’s reward. It was not always easy. Many of the times, I had to sacrifice something I needed so that another who needed it more than me could enjoy it instead. Oftentimes, I deliberately chose to sow my last as seed and hope in God than eat it as bread and wonder what next. For so many years, it seemed everyone was taking from me. It seemed like people didn’t realize that I had needs too. I eventually came to the conclusion that it was my lot to give. Even when it was misunderstood and abused, I found joy to continue giving because of God.

I knew that where we sowed is not where we reap. I knew that what we sowed is not always what we reap. I’ve heard preachers say when you sow money, you reap money as in whatever you sow you reap so if you want money sow money. But I learned differently from the Lord. God taught me that we sow what is in our hands, He determines the type and timing of reward. God taught me that we should not give because we want; we should not sow for the sake of reward. Our giving should be driven by our love for God not our hunger for harvest.

When our focus is on harvest, we grow weary if it doesn’t come how and when we expect it. However, when God is the fulcrum of our giving, we grow not weary though it appears we have no returns to show off for our sacrifices. We don’t stop giving because we are not getting. Our focus rests on God, on His ways and His timings. And when that is our attitude in giving, God times the harvest to meet our utmost needs.

Like I said, for so many years, all I did was give and all I got was more demands. Then the time came and God raised vessels who found joy in giving me. They didn’t wait for me to ask. They identified needs in my life and reached out as often as they could to grease my path and life. It was such joy to see God’s word prove my assumption false: such joy to watch God use others to do for me, what I had done for others and more. And it was joy to these vessels to just bless me.

They weren’t blessing me because of anything in particular I did. In fact, in most cases, there was no justifiable basis for the givings. The only explanation is that it must be God! I can’t recall how many times I was told, “I had to get you this because I know all you think is giving others and you won’t get it for yourself.” From little gifts like fruits, food, groceries, ice cream, chocolates, household items to really spectacular ones. I cherish every single one as a special reward from God. I never take these for granted no matter the vessel, the timing, the size and the circumstance: I just know it is my Father spoiling me through His chosen vessels.

I did not reap the things I sowed. Not from those into whose lives I sowed. And definitely not the times I think I needed them. God opens greater doors than my giving could reach, and does for me what I would not and could not do for myself. I didn’t choose the harvest or it would have been spent before the need arrived. I didn’t choose the vessels or I would have missed them. I received each without shame and sometimes, I felt this is ridiculous, “This is too much please!” “How do I explain this?” “Let me do it for myself.” The same me that once thought I was meant to just give, not receive – God gets the last laugh :).

Life indeed is in seasons. Live each season with grace irrespective of results and feedback. Trust God, He knows how to pay back in ways that are exceedingly, abundantly, above and beyond what we give or ask. Trust that God’s Word will always prove true irrespective of our experiences at the time. To the chosen vessels that God has used and still uses to bless me personally and in my ministry, may your reward be far greater than the seeds you lavish upon me for His sake, amen.

Glory!