Time to Try

Most of the time, the only way to figure something out is to try. If you want to know if shoes fit, you try them on. If you want to know if you like a new food, you eat a bite. If you want to know if you like a book, you start reading it.

Of course, every time you try something, there is a risk involved. If the shoe doesn’t fit, you wasted a few seconds of your time. If you don’t like the food, you have a bad taste in your mouth. If you don’t like the book, you wasted your time and maybe some money. In all of these scenarios, the risk factor is small, but there are many, many things in our lives with greater risks that we will never figure out if we don’t try.

What is it that you are not trying out of fear? Is there something that you have been wanting to do, but the risk seems too big? Is there something you would do if you knew you wouldn’t fail? Are there any areas you are holding back in because you cannot predict the future?

Last week, we started looking at Ecclesiastes 11 and the illustration of the farmer who spent all his time staring at the clouds but never planted any seed. One thing is for certain, a farmer who spends all their time trying to predict the weather will never reap a harvest. And the person who spends all their time trying to predict the future will never make any progress.

Let’s look at a little deeper into what Solomon has to say about sowing and reaping. I love how practical he gets, “Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.” (Ecclesiastes 11:6 NASB) In other words, the only way to know if something will succeed is to try it. If you have a desire, a goal, a vision, or a calling, the only way to know if is the right one is to start moving.

From some angles, this advice can be overwhelming, especially if you are like me and you hate to fail. I only like to do things I know will work. I like to be successful and I like to look good. I am not saying that is right, but it’s the truth. So Solomon’s words can be hard for me to swallow. Sometimes I am going to go down a path and find out it is not the right one. Sometimes I will fail. Sometimes things will not go like I have planned. Sometimes I will start something and life will stop me.

But on the other hands, Solomon’s words can be very freeing. Remember that farmer who wanted to predict the future? He needed to be okay in the unknown. And so do I. It is okay to not know everything. It is okay to take one step without knowing the next ten. It is okay to try something and find out it is not right for me. It is okay to walk down a path and be redirected somewhere else.

I have heard it said many times that life is not about the destination, it’s about the journey. I think that is what Solomon is reminding us of here. Growth happens through discovery. We learn about God, ourselves, and others as we step out. We grow in our faith when we put it in motion.

So, when is the best time to sow into your future? Solomon advises – try in the morning, try in the evening, try anytime, try all the time.

There is no way for me to know what areas you are holding back in or what you need to try. I cannot see what is going on inside your heart and mind. But one thing I know is that God knows everything you are thinking and feeling. He knows the future. And He is faithful.

The time to try is today.