[Jesus speaking]
He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

As I think of many of the classic novels of the past, what I love the most is the moral lessons they teach us. Many are about persecution, unfair or unjust hardship, an uprising, and then a return volley for revenge or to escape from oppression. One of the books I like the most is The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. It describes a total and utter tearing away of all the things we naturally should enjoy for Edmond Dante, the main character. Then, after a time of imprisonment, Edmond was gifted an immense fortune. And the grantor told him to use the fortune for God. Instead of doing that, he used it mainly to enact revenge on those he felt had betrayed him. In the end, he lost some of those he loved because of his vengeful heart.

Control is at the center of many responses to injustice. We want to control the amount of pain we experience, so we push those who are too close to us away, because they may hurt us (depending on the circumstances, this can be a good or bad move). We want to control outcomes, so we may take justice into our own hands to help God make sure it is served up in our timing and way.

People can talk over and enforce pressure on others to ensure their way of doing things is carried out. In the process, they do not show a caring or compassionate heart. There are other control scenarios, and in a topsy-turvy life, we must ask: What is it that God asks us to do?

I think this parable of the scattered seed is very deep and revealing of what we actually have control over. The farmer works hard to spread the wheat seed. But after that, he does not do much. The sun comes, the rain comes, the crop grows, the heads of grain develop, and then he harvests.

What do I really have control over, outside of the work God designs for me to do? When I try to take control of outcomes that are ultimately in God’s control, why do I expect it to end well or satisfy me?

The truth is, the need in our hearts to be loved and accepted is only filled by God. It is a God-sized hole. Instead of taking control, he calls us to surrender to his sovereign plan and design for our lives. He plans our work in advance for us to do and gives us the opportunity to do this work! “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Lord, I surrender my heart to your plan and the outcomes in this world, whether they seem fair or not. Why? Because this is your testing ground for my soul. My home for eternity is in heaven with you. And I will faithfully follow you all the way home.