It’s funny that the last two devotions I have written have been about farming when I have a perpetually non-green thumb. I can normally take the most healthy plant and turn it into a dead, dry husk in no time flat. While this is a sad truth, I too can draw comfort from today’s message… Growth does not depend on my efforts.

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Jesus teaches us a message in Mark 4 using a technique called a parable which, if you are not familiar with the term, is a concise story that conveys a moral, spiritual, or theological truth by means of everyday illustrations and relatable experiences. In this particular case, Jesus’ story is both comforting and unsettling. Comforting because it reminds us that growth does not depend entirely on us. It’s unsettling because it asks us to release control. The farmer scatters the seed and then does something that feels almost irresponsible—he goes about his life. He sleeps. He wakes. And somehow, without his constant effort or understanding, the seed grows.

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This is a powerful picture of how God works restoration in our lives. Many of us believe that lasting change requires constant striving, perfect discipline, or fully understanding the process. We think that if we can just figure out the formula—pray harder, try more, manage ourselves better—then growth will happen. But Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of God doesn’t work like that. The farmer’s role is real, but it’s limited. He scatters the seed. He shows up. He trusts the process. But he does not manufacture growth. Growth happens beneath the surface, in ways he cannot see or explain. The life that lasts—the restored, whole life God promises—grows because God is at work, not because we are in control.

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Isaiah 61:11 reinforces this truth: “The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to the nations of the world. Everyone will praise him! His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, with plants springing up everywhere.” God causes righteousness, healing, and renewal to spring up. Our responsibility is not to force growth but to stay planted and available. This is especially important for those who feel stuck. Maybe you’ve been praying for change and haven’t seen visible progress. Maybe you’ve taken steps toward healing but still feel fragile. Maybe you’re new to faith and wondering if anything is actually happening. Jesus’ words speak directly into that discouragement: growth is happening, even when you don’t understand how.

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Restoration is often quiet before it is obvious. The seed doesn’t announce itself. It doesn’t break the soil on day one. It grows in darkness, in silence, unseen. But that doesn’t make it inactive. In fact, the most important work is happening underground. We live in a culture that values instant results. We measure success by speed, visibility, and certainty. But the Kingdom of God values faithfulness, trust, and patience. A life that lasts isn’t built in a moment—it’s grown over time, through steady trust in God’s work. This truth is freeing for believers who feel pressure to have everything figured out. And it’s inviting for those who aren’t sure what they believe yet but long for real change. Jesus doesn’t ask you to understand everything. He asks you to receive the seed and allow God to do what only He can do. The farmer doesn’t dig up the seed to check its progress. He doesn’t panic when growth is slow. He trusts that something is happening because he trusts the One who designed the seed.

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That’s Restoration Life.

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It’s trusting that God is at work in your life even when you can’t see it. It’s believing that the habits you’re forming, the prayers you’re praying, the steps you’re taking—however small—are seeds that God is nurturing. It’s learning to rest in the truth that transformation doesn’t depend on your understanding but on God’s faithfulness. The life you truly want—the life of wholeness, healing, and lasting joy—does not grow through pressure. It grows through surrender. It grows as you keep showing up, keep trusting, and keep allowing God to work in the hidden places of your heart.

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And one day, often sooner than you might expect, you look up and realize: something has grown.

God, thank You for being at work in ways I cannot always see or understand. Help me trust You with the process of growth in my life. When I feel impatient or discouraged, remind me that You are faithful and that nothing You plant is ever wasted. Teach me to rest instead of strive, to trust instead of control, and to believe that You are growing something good in me. Let my life reflect the lasting work of Your Kingdom—a life rooted in Your truth, shaped by Your grace, and sustained by Your presence. I place my growth in Your hands, confident that You will bring it to completion. Amen.