by Linda Veath

I stood looking out my window. It was a gray, dreary day. Light showers. Dropping temps. Hayrides and campfires. Stars twinkling in the night skies. Cold noses and warm blankets. Hot chocolate.

And during the day the sounds of combines running in the fields. After sunset, the sound of grain dryers running all night long. Eventually the grain sells. And in the spring it starts all over again.

I love fall.

But it’s also hard to be a farmer. If anyone is going to teach us patience, it would be them. We pray to God for rain and growth of our fields. His will for us might bring bushels of grain to sell. But His will might dry up the fields and grain in a huge drought. 

It teaches us to pray and trust, whether it’s grain or anything else needing to grow. He hopes we can learn peace and trust in Him every day of our lives. And it teaches us that while dreary days can overcome us for a short time, in the long run, He will lead us through anything if we just hold His hand. 

The next time you see the signs of fall, take a minute and soak them up. God has control of it all. Rest in that thought and enjoy His world.

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! ~ Habakkuk 3:17-18 NLT