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But"); document.writeln("if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.¹

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Much"); document.writeln("patience is required from a fruit farmer. Consider the growth of a new crop of"); document.writeln("apple trees. In the first year, the trees are becoming accustomed to the soil"); document.writeln("and there are no apples. In the second year, there are still no apples, but the"); document.writeln("trees have shown growth in height and fullness. In the third and fourth years,"); document.writeln("the trees begin to show signs of maturity as their branches blossom with little"); document.writeln("white and pink flowers, but usually, it is not until year five or six that a"); document.writeln("full apple harvest is realized. It may be 25 years until a healthy, standard"); document.writeln("apple tree yields its best fruit and in that time the farmer remains patient."); document.writeln("Throughout those quiet, barren years, the farmer does not tear the trees out of"); document.writeln("the ground in frustration. Instead, he waits patiently because he has an"); document.writeln("assured hope in the invisible harvest he knows will come.

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Our"); document.writeln("lives are filled with moments of waiting and anticipation that require the"); document.writeln("patience of a fruit farmer. Often, we face the difficult challenge of waiting"); document.writeln("for answers to our prayers. We know God has heard and is moving on our behalf"); document.writeln("per His plan for us, but the waiting can lead us to feel discouraged and maybe"); document.writeln("even take back our request, settling for whatever is in our reach. But when we"); document.writeln("wait for God\'€檚 time, not only have we grown steadily in patience, but we are"); document.writeln("also rewarded with a full harvest of blessing! If you are going through a"); document.writeln("silent season, where you are patiently (or impatiently!) waiting to see God"); document.writeln("move, place your cares in the hands of the Almighty and trust Him to fulfill"); document.writeln("His promises. Rest in the hope for the invisible blessing that is coming!

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Suggested"); document.writeln("prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for the promise of knowing that I can trust in you"); document.writeln("in every circumstance. Help me remain faithful in prayer and patient in waiting"); document.writeln("while I watch you move in my life. Thank you for the growth I will gain in you!"); document.writeln("In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

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1. Romans 8:25 (ESV).

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Today\'€檚"); document.writeln("Encounter was written by: Veronica B.

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