^“Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” (2 Corinthians 5:1)

While traveling the roads in the mid-west during summer, we can look out the window and observe row after row of cornstalks. If the field is well tended, the stalks are usually tall, strong, and bright green. They produce many large ears of corn and are considered a good crop at harvest. However, if the field remains untended the crop is much less desirable, with stalks that are weak and bent, producing only a few small ears of corn throughout the growing season. Sometimes these two contrasting cornfields can be right next to one another. Why would one field be so different from another?

One possible explanation is the condition of the soil. Sometimes, it is the fertilizer that makes the crop healthy.

Fertilizer is not pretty, does not smell good, and only flies are attracted to it. However, fertilizer makes the ground suitable for growth. Fertilizer strengthens the cornstalks and as Erma Bombeck once wrote, “The grass is always greener over the septic tank.”

Often the events in our lives can appear to be a big pile of fertilizer. The enemy wants us to focus on the fertilizer and recognize it only as a big pile of poo. But God uses these events to strengthen us and develop us according to His purpose. Just as He can use a big pile of poo to strengthen cornstalks and make the ground suitable for growth, so He strengthens us by the difficulties we face.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “⁸We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed…¹⁶Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4)

Paul understood that our temporary afflictions are working to accomplish God’s purpose for our lives. I pray that we never focus on the fertilizer, with our heads down in defeat, but rather focusing on the Lord’s plan for our lives, walking by faith not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), and with the understanding that, “all things work together for good to those who love God, who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 )

Let the fertilizer do it’s work in us and may God use us for His glory.

^“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18 )

God bless you and thanks for visiting.