There’s one type of image that pops up in Scripture repeatedly when describing the growth of Christians—farming or gardening. Perhaps we should think of our spiritual lives like gardening. “All farmers know that there is always more work to be done than there is time to do it; nevertheless, these same farmers also understand that much of what happens to the crops is beyond their control. There is much for the farmer to do, but the farmer cannot make the seed sprout, the sun shine or the rain fall. In fact, it is only because the farmer trusts that these good gifts will continue to be given that the challenging and risk-filled enterprise of farming is undertaken at all” (Philip Kenneson, Life on the Vine: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit [Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999], 18). The same is true of our spiritual growth: there is much for us to do, but there is even more that is out of our control.
Source: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Vine-Cultivating-Fruit-Spirit/dp/0830822194
