Abandoning Outcomes

Sometimes I just don't get it. Each time I plant my garden of vegetables, I carefully work the soil. I put in fresh fertilizer to replenish the nutrients, and dig deep into boxes to get it all thoroughly mixed. I pick healthy plants to start out the season and provide the water to get them growing. I watch for progress, checking for a good outcome of plentiful crops. Sometimes I have boxes that overflow with abundance and sometimes like now, nothing to really speak of. My arugula seems to have been satisfied by some critter I never actually saw, but each day I went out there to look, more leaves were chomped away. The tomatoes turned spindly, the peppers rarely produced, the eggplants just grew leaves, the onions were salvageable, but the raspberry bush stay leaned. How could it go from such an abundance to pittance?

Viewing my summer garden of defeat, I realize that I've been a person who focuses on the outcome. And of course, what gardener or farmer hasn't, because the goal of planting is to reap the reward of a bountiful harvest? But the reality is the actual outcome has never been mine to control, I cannot make the plants grow, I can only provide an opportunity for their growth. I have no say in making it turn out alright. That actually lies in the hand of the One who created life and plant. I tend to get in the way of things, wanting to boast about my garden, but the fact is garden life is and always has been out of my control and reach.

So like life as we know of it. We try to do the right things, we boast in our achievements, we even find ourselves focusing on positive outcomes when we pray. But then we tend to worry or feel anxiety when it doesn't appear the way we think it should; we can even despair when it turns out opposite of what we thought was right. But wait a second, life's outcomes are truly never ours to own! Who made us God and Maker?

I like how Dallas Willard summarizes this thought in his book, Renovation of the Heart, "Here is the simple fact: We live in a world . . . by God's appointment. . . He has a plan for our life that goes far beyond anything we can work out or secure by means of strong horses and good legs. (Psalm. 147:10). We simply have to rest in his life as he gives it to us. Knowledge from Christ, that he is good and great enables us to cast outcomes on him . . . Resting in God, we can be free from all anxiety, which means deep soul rest." (p. 210)

Abandoning outcomes; trusting and waiting on God secures my growth and faith in Him. That frees me up from inner turmoil, and brings me rest, peace, and hope. . .

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