What To Do When Life Feels Futile

For years now, I’ve had this recurring dream. A dream of a farmer sowing seed in his field. The farmer would dig a little hole, drop in a seed, cover the hole, pat down the dirt on top, take a step forward, bend down, and do it again. One seed, then the next. Seed after seed the farmer planted his field.

Suddenly the perspective in my dream shifted and I could see the entire field. It went on for miles! All I could see were the little bumps in the dirt where the farmer covered the seed and patted the ground down around the seed. For miles, rows of planted seeds. The only problem? No fruit.

Now, I don’t know how long the farmer had been planting seed in that field but as far as the eye could see there was no apparent fruit for his labor. (Ever feel that way?)

Then the perspective shifted again. I could see a field next to the farmer’s with a ravine separating the two fields. The difference about this field was there was no farmer in it. No one was planting seed in it. But much to my surprise there was fruit growing in that field. As far as the eye could see seedlings were sprouting up. Some just getting started while others ripe with fruit. I thought to myself, “how could effort in that field produce fruit in this one?” There was a ravine separating the two fields. It seemed impossible.

Then I woke up and immediately heard in my heart, “Your efforts are being rewarded in ways you can not imagine.”

I don’t know why it is that “the plows we put our hands to,” the effort we put forth with all of our might, sometimes seems like it never produces anything. It feels futile.

But whenever I start feeling that feeling of futility, like I’m never getting anywhere, I always remember the dream of the farmer sowing seed. And remember that even though it looks like I’m not producing anything with this effort, I know deep down inside that my efforts are being rewarded in ways I can’t imagine.

You might feel like that farmer. It may seem like you’re not getting anywhere, like you’re spinning your wheels, like life is futile. I want to encourage you that your effort hasn’t gone unnoticed.

When all seems futile, when it feels like your effort isn’t getting you anywhere, look up. Don’t look at the field with your natural eyes, which appears to be barren at the moment, look continuously through the eyes of faith and remember, your effort is being rewarded in ways you can’t even imagine.