Sunday 6, September 2026

As we read God’s Word, our aim is to strengthen our faith. There are times when that is truly simple, but at other times – whoa, it’s an uphill battle. Let us not lose hope in those times. Divide reminds us in the Psalms that moments of struggle don’t always spell disaster. We continue to reflect on the Parable of the Sower with Today’s Holy Nougat

Mark 4:3, 8 NIV

[3] “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed …

[8] Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”

The Sower’s Dilemma

Are you familiar with the concept of spiritual furloughs? That’s a season where nothing much happens, and it seems as if God is silent. This isn’t the same as an economic furlough. An economic furlough often relates to a company’s ability to pay its employees. In a spiritual furlough, God honours all God’s promises to us, but intentionally places us on sabbatical: a season of rest and renewal.

Self-Check

Should God have reason to place us on furlough at the moment? Why/ not?

Digging Deeper

As we reflect on being on furlough, Elijah comes to mind. He was one of the most fiery Jewish prophets ever. He called forth the fire of God on the prophets of Baal in his time – and it came to pass. This changed when Queen Jezebel threatened his life. In fear, Elijah bought into the enemy’s lie that he was alone in fulfilling God’s work. His fertile soul/soil had become as one depleted of the fire of God’s Word and Spirit.

Elijah went into hiding. Then God came to his rescue and allowed him to experience what we call spiritual furlough.

Siblings, soil can go from fertile to barren if not carefully tended. When that happens, we need to ensure that the weeds, the thistles, and rocks are removed so the soil can breathe again. To counter the burnout, our soul soil may require some spiritual composting.

Composting offers renewal to tired and thirsty soil/souls. But it isn’t usually fun. Organic material (often waste) is layered between soil and allowed to remain in that state for a season. In that time, the pile is kept moist and occasionally rotated to allow air in. In some composting processes, the dark, layered state fosters worms that help to aerate the compost. Yet, as a result of the layered organic waste material, the inevitable stench, and the turning of the compost, the soil that emerges from the process is rich and fertile.

Elijah’s forty days in the cave with God moved him from becoming a sidewalk where birds stole God’s Word from his soul. After being composted by God’s refreshing, he was wholly rejuvenated. He gained fresh perspective on God and God’s ways. We can read more about him in 1 Kings 17 onward.

Moses also underwent a composting season. A former prince of Egypt, he became a fugitive shepherd. But his 40-year sojourn in the wilderness was a season of composting for renewal. The Moses who returned to Egypt was spiritually and mentally stronger than the Moses who ran away.

Siblings, at this time, some of us are experiencing the darkness of God’s composting process. Life might be dark, damp, and smelly. God may feel far away. As we have reflected on the soils in the parable, we might not feel very fertile.

But God

Siblings, in Christ we have the blessed assurance of renewal just like Elijah, Moses and Peter. Calvary wasn’t God’s last word. Resurrection offers a new season with Christ. It assures us that spiritual furlough may be the transformation our soul needs at this time to revive us.

Before giving in to the sense that all hope is lost, let’s pray to the Lord of the harvest for grace to emerge fertile and flourishing.

[I’m joining us all in prayer for our transformation while on furlough.]

Prayer Point (in song)

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May all we seek be found in Christ