WAITING BEFORE THE HARVEST

Lesson 3: Waiting Before the Harvest

(What God is doing in you is worth the wait)

James 5:7-8 (NIV)

“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”

Waiting can be a hard process.

Let’s be honest, when we know something good is coming, the wait feels even longer.

Recently, I have been on a kick of making things from “scratch”, and I decided to make homemade ice cream. The process was surprisingly simple; but after mixing the few ingredients, I realized I had to wait at least six hours before I could enjoy it. The longer I stared at the freezer, the harder the wait became. I even considered eating it early; but, if I had, it would not have been ready. It would not have been as good.

And isn’t that just like life?

Some of you have planted seeds in tears. You have served faithfully, obeyed quietly, and kept walking when quitting felt easier. You have been in a season of preparation, and yet, here you are STILL waiting.

Watch This:

The waiting is not wasted. It is where God does His best work.

Just as a farmer does not dig up the soil to check the seed, we too must resist the temptation to rush God’s process. The waiting season is not punishment, it is preparation.

It is in the waiting that:

Roots grow deep
Trust is tested and strengthened
Character is refined
Faith is proven
Expectations are aligned with God’s timing (not your own)

You may feel buried, unseen, and forgotten; but the seed is never abandoned by the farmer. The one who planted the seed continues to care for it. They are responsible for watering, monitoring, and pruning the seed. You are being cared for by God the same way.

You are not buried to die; you are planted to GROW!

In this lesson we are going to focus on three questions:

Am I rushing the process God has me in right now
Do I trust the process and why is this important to my harvest
What can I learn from being in the Waiting process

Am I rushing the process God has me in right now?

Waiting can stir up anxiety, especially when we start comparing our timelines and outcomes to those of others. It is ok to consider how God has blessed others; but the moment we begin to measure our own process and progress against theirs; we enter a dangerous space.

When I was younger, we had an oven that seemed to have a mind of its own. My auntie would bake and share her recipes; but if you followed the instructions exactly as written, same temperature and same baking time, your dish would almost always come out burnt. We had to adjust: lower the temperature and give

it more time. It may have taken a little longer; but the expected outcome was achieved.

This is how we should approach the things of God. We should work with patience, operate with trust, and live with an attitude and willingness to surrender our timeline to His. Many times, rushing ahead of God can lead to immature fruit. It may look good on the outside, but internally, it hasn’t had time to develop the depth and strength to last.

Trust that His pace is for your protection and your preparation. You cannot force open doors that God has yet to unlock. Instead, slow down, stop comparing, and let go of the pressure. Simply trust His process!

Do I trust the process? Why is this important to my harvest?

Trusting the process means trusting God’s heart, even when His hand seems hidden. Every delay has purpose. Evey pause is intentional. When we choose to trust Him, our faith is strengthened, and we are protected from sabotaging the very harvest we prayed for.

Trusting the process is not passive, it is a display of power. It keeps us from making unnecessary adjustments based on fear, impatience, or comparison. Whether we try to speed things up or slow things down on our own terms, we risk turning what was meant to be a blessing into a burden.

Impatience can rob us of both peace and purpose. It can cause us to settle for premature results and immature fruit that lacks lasting value. Let’s be honest: a harvest of undeveloped fruit may look like success on the outside but proves to be empty on the inside.

Trusting God in every area of your life (your timing, relationships, careers, healing, and calling) is not optional… It is vital! He sees the end from the beginning and knows the conditions that will produce full, rich, and plentiful harvest in your life.

What can I learn from being in the waiting process?

Waiting is not just about enduring time; it is about engaging with God. Let this be a season where you listen more closely, lean in more deeply, and let go more freely. Let this time be marked by less complaining and more praising, less pity and more purpose.

I cannot say it enough, waiting is not punishment, it is preparation. Often, it reveals what we have overlooked or what we still need to surrender. The waiting process, more time than not, is about discovering what we have been missing than it is about getting what you have been asking for. The truth is what you have been asking for it is not the right time to receive. When the time is right and you are prepared it will show up.

You cannot allow your circumstances or the conditions around you distort your view of the seed that has been planted. The farmer rarely doubts the seed; he adjusts his strategy to the season. He knows how to prepare the soil, protect the crops, and wait for the right moment to reap the harvest.

God is no different! He’s not just developing the harvest, He’s developing you. So, while you are waiting don’t forget to worship, grow in the word, listen for and to His voice, and Trust the process because the waiting is working!

Before I leave you, I want you to know:

You are not forgotten.
You are not disqualified
You are not behind
You are not stuck
You are not delayed
You are not alone

You are being prepared for a harvest that only God can bring. So don’t rush it, don’t give up, and don’t dig up the seed.

The Harvest is Coming! Expect It…