By Doug Smith

The story goes like this: A farmer bought a run-down farm that needed a lot of TLC. He and his wife worked tirelessly to fix it up by painting the farmhouse bright white. They installed a pretty white picket fence and cleaned up the yard and landscape. The large barn was given a brilliant coat of red paint. The fields were tilled, and crops planted.

Everything was looking so beautiful as they awaited their first harvest season. They were so proud. A neighbor came by and complimented the couple on how nice things looked. They thanked him and told him how hard they worked, and how they could enjoy their new life on the farm now. The only thing they forgot was God in the middle of their efforts.

Later in the year, there was a severe drought that basically destroyed their crops, their source of income for the next year. This led to fear, anxiety, problems and even failure. The couple started arguing and grew distant from each other.

What went so wrong? How would they recover?

Then the neighbor visited again and said that they should trust in God and work together with him — and not in their own strength — to recover. Isn’t this true of many of us?

Why do we need to include God in our daily lives, our work, our families and, sadly, even in our churches? God wants to be involved in all aspects of our lives all the time. We need to take away the “I can do it myself” attitude and include God in everything from the beginning, not just when times get tough.

Take this beautiful assurance from Jeremiah 29:11-12: “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you.”

What plans do you have, and how can you include God in them? When we seek him with all our heart, he promises to be found.

Smith is a member of the Northeast Pennsylvania chapter of Fellowship of Christian Farmers International. Reach him at [email protected].