Planting and Watering.

The other day, I went hiking through the Mariposa Grove. There is a collection of enormous trees located in Yosemite National Park; it is home to over 500 mature giant sequoias. The tallest tree in the grove is 285 feet tall, which, to compare, is close to the height of the statue of liberty, which stands at about 305 feet. So, as you can imagine, these are pretty dang tall trees.

What I find most fascinating about these trees is how they reproduce. Here’s the process: pine cones containing seeds fall from the branches of the mature trees onto the ground. Then, overtime, the fertile seeds will grow into the huge sequoias that are found in the grove. I personally find it pretty rad that some of the biggest trees in the world begin from a tiny seed that falls from another. 

I think we’re called to be like these Sequoias. Check out this passage:

“What then is Apollos? What is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. Now, he who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s co-workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.”

1 Corinthians 3:5-9

When it comes to being a planter, I always feel like it is my responsibility as a Christ follower to produce big trees. Or, I feel like when I share my faith with others, I have to be the one to lead them to Jesus and have to get them going to church and have to get them reading their bible, etc. It’s a daunting task that seems as big as a sequoia tree, because it is. 

But that’s why I find so much peace and assurance within this passage from 1 Corinthians. I think the thing we should gather is this: God gives growth. We cannot do that; we don’t have the means or the power to do so on our own.

Also, there is so much freedom in knowing that God isn’t expecting us to do all the heavy lifting when it comes to leading people to Him. Sometimes, we do get to plant the seed of faith in people’s lives and water their faith through encouragement; but, sometimes, we are just the seed planter or just the waterer. Either way, we play a vital role in the eyes of the Father.

We can never be the sun. Plants need sun in order to grow; you can keep planting seeds and keep watering your plants, but unless you have sunlight, your plants aren’t going to grow. The same is true for us. We are not the Son. We aren’t Jesus. We aren’t God. Thus we should not expect that our pouring into other people alone is going to lead them to sequoia-sized faith. They need to encounter the living God in their hearts. And if they seek Him, they will. 

I love the end of this verse that says, “For we are God’s co-workers.” I think it’s so rad that God wants to partner with us and wants to work in us to reach others in love. He could do it all by Himself, but He chooses to use us, which is such a blessing, and I really think shows God’s loving and compassionate character—that He would choose to use broken, messy, sinful people to be His hands and feet and share the love of Jesus. He doesn’t expect giant sequoias from us alone; He will say, “Well done my good and faithful servant” when we have the boldness and courage to plant seeds in people whom we meet or when we encourage people in their walk, like watering. But we must always remember that the Son is the key to growth. Apart from God we are nothing.

Plants some seeds, water some small trees, and see how God will partner with you in the creation of sequoia-sized faith.

words by Samantha Burton and photo by Arianna Taralson