Faith with Work Yields A Bountiful Harvest

Brittany Smith
Psalm 126

2020 has brought us the COVID-19 pandemic upending our precarious safety nets and devastating marginalized communities, an economic crisis that caused many to wonder where their next meal will come from or if they’ll be forced out their homes, and political anxiety and social unrest that made people fearful of the future.

It’s safe to say I will shed no tears when December 31, 2020 comes to an end.

Of course, when there’s suffering with no end in sight, it’s very human to question why this is happening. During the height of the summer of protests a friend asked me why God would allow Black people to continue to suffer in such egregious ways and I didn’t have an adequate response for her. Truthfully, I wondered the same thing and couldn’t find a decent answer. It’s tempting to give into despair. As an anxious person, I can slip into moments of endless worrying. During this year, I have given into fear and despair and lost sight of the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.

But my faith buoys me and fosters a sense of optimism. I feel God speak to me. I feel Her presence surround and lovingly embrace me.

Reflecting on Psalm 126, I’m reminded of the importance of optimism despite our pain and sorrow. Not blind optimism or naivete. Optimism without work is just as harmful as relentless pessimism. I believe better days are ahead of us, but I recognize they will not see light without hard work. If we wish to experience a harvest, we must first plant a seed and work in our garden. As an amateur gardener, I know how hard and frustrating it is to plant new crops and wait. Gardening requires an endless well of patience and a willingness to roll up our sleeves and dirty our hands and clothes.

And work is more than the physical exertion of our bodies. It’s the mental and emotional task of accepting our losses and recognizing the lessons in our failures. It’s acknowledging our toxic blindspots and being willing to unlearn them. It’s making a pledge to be better neighbors and allies to the most vulnerable. It’s being willing to courageously plant your seed and dare to hope for a plentiful harvest.

I do not wish to belittle or demean the suffering and trauma this year has brought. As I learned from the film ‘Parasite,’ one person’s drizzle is another’s hurricane. I also do not wish to suggest working without rest is the answer to our problems. Eventually, burnout will take hold. 2020 has been a tough year and the best we could do is simply survive. But it was also the start of a new decade and I planted my own metaphorical seeds. Those seeds still have the potential to grow, if they’re watered and cared for.