Time to Produce

Jesus tells the story about a farmer who had a fig tree that for three years had not produced any fruit.  I would guess that most of us would want to cut it down or dig it up and plant another one.  But this farmer gives it another year.  Thankfully, our God is like this farmer, giving us time, for we might not even know that indeed we are producing, even when the fruit is not visible.  It is a paradox that through our daily prayers, as routine and unexciting as they may sometimes seem, we are unconsciously growing to be more like Jesus.  We may not see it, but Jesus tells us that even when our weaknesses, faults and failings make it seem that we are further away from him than ever before, we are indeed closer.  It is because of this closeness that our unlikeness to him stands out and becomes more visible in our eyes. The more light on the page, the better we can see it.  Same principle. In addition,  the desire to help others find Jesus, which is often part of our prayer, is enough, even when it seems our actual efforts are failing.  So we can't pass judgement on our own tree, nor be too hasty to cut it down.  Best to leave it in the hands of the God who gives it time to produce in HIS sight.
Bro. Rene