A Harvest in His Time

Blueberry season has come and gone here, but I still remember collecting those juicy berries this summer. It made for memories that I hope my boys will treasure in years to come. In anticipation to our trip to the farm, we talked about going blueberry picking for weeks. We talked about making blueberry pancakes and jam. On the drive to the farm we discussed who would collect the most, who would eat the most, and how sweet they would taste.  We anticipated the harvesting we were about to do and by the time we got there? We couldn't wait to pick those berries and plop their yumminess into our mouths. But sometimes the harvest isn't ready to be picked.....

When we got to the farm and were being led to the blueberry bushes, we were given instructions. Instructions to NOT pick the green or purple blueberries. The deepest blue were the ripest and the ones ready for the picking. They would taste the best. And so as we began picking, we kept that in mind. We collected handfuls of the blue berries. But the purple ones kept drawing the attention of my boys. Oh, how they really wanted a purple one. Oh, how they really wanted to taste a purple one. But I reminded them, we were only to pick the blue ones.

As I am writing this, I am reminded of Eve. There in the garden. Everything is there, ripe for the picking....except for the apples on the tree of knowledge.  How that apple must have shined, the redness of it catching her eye as she walked by. Just like those purple berries. Now, it wasn't that the apples weren't ripe, but that's a whole other story, but she was she instructed not to eat them. But Eve thought there was something she was missing by not being able to try one. She thought she knew more than God. It's the same when we anticipate picking those berries, and want to pick the purple ones, the ones that aren't ripe, that we aren't supposed to pick. And we do it anyway. Because we think we know better, wonder what we are missing, aren't patient or because we want to pick it on our time. Not God's. 

How many purple berries have we picked because we thought if we didn't pick it now, it would never ripen?
Wait for the blue ones.
"If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place." Habakkuk 2:3
Wait for the berry to turn blue. It will. Don't pick it before its ready.

How many times have we wanted the "berry" right now and weren't willing to wait for it turn blue?
"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness." 2 Peter 3:8-9
Wait for the blue ones. 

How many times have we plucked the purple berries thinking we knew better and didn't need to wait?
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8
Wait for the blue ones.

Wait for the "berries" in your life to be ripe. Wait. Don't pick them too early. God's having you wait for a reason. And His plans are greater and more extraordinary than you could have imagined. There is a reason He wants you to wait. Wait and you will see. The "berries" will be much sweeter, the pies you make with them, much tastier, and the picking? Far more satisfying than you could have imagined. 

My boys resisted, and didn't pick the purple berries. They let those grow and turn into blue ones. Whatever you have been anticipating or waiting for, I hope you do the same.

Blessings,
​Elizabeth