Do you get impatient when God is stretching you, wanting to enjoy the harvest NOW?

God knows that you might not be ready yet and so He will slowly stretch you little by little preparing you for the weight of the harvest to come.

Tomato plants need to grow slow and steady or they’ll get “growth cracks”. When weather is dry, excessive watering leads to tomatoes expanding too quickly. When tomato skins don’t have enough time to stretch, they crack to alleviate pressure. If you’re like me, you might want to water excessively in hopes of enjoying them quickly… you know, help them out a little, but in the end the fruit might not be what you expected!

When Joshua was about to enter the Promised Land, God said, “Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

The word “dismayed” here in the Hebrew Lexicon means, “to crack under stress.”

God didn’t want Joshua to crack under the weight of his new responsibilities and He doesn’t want you to crack either. So He stretches you little by little until you’re ready.

The next time you see a cracked tomato remember … “Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, (do not crack under stress) for the Lord your God is with you where ever you go.”

He is stretching you and the Weight of the Harvest is worth it!

Of lately God has been stretching my faith to believe Him at His Word. How about you?

Journaling will help you grow without cracking under stress.

Journal: In what area of your life is God stretching (growing) you?

The following exercise will help you hear Him more clearly because you are actually slowing down long enough to listen.

Journaling Exercise: Take a close reflective look at your heart and your life.

  1. How is He stretching your character? Go ahead – write it down!
  2. Take a moment, listen and write what God reveals.
  3. If you have been journaling – look over your past journals and record how He has been speaking to you through the Bible, His Spirit, your circumstances, what people say and church. (If you have not been journaling start today and over time you will see God’s fingerprints in your life). God is always at work, growing your character to match the purpose that He has for your life.

Look closely – if you don’t join God in what He is doing, the growth process will take longer.

“Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)