Plowed for a Purpose: Trusting God’s Work in the Hard Seasons

If you’ve ever felt like life is turning you inside out, leaving you exposed and broken, you’re not alone. The deep, soul-searching trials we endure can often feel relentless, like a plow cutting furrows through our lives. A recent reflection from the Abide Above devotional reminds us that these painful moments are not meaningless. They are part of the divine Husbandman’s work, preparing us for a harvest of eternal value.

The Purpose of the Plow

Samuel Rutherford once said, “Why should I start at the plow of my Lord, that maketh deep furrows on my soul? He purposeth a crop!” This metaphor beautifully illustrates the often painful process of spiritual growth. In the same way that a farmer’s plow cuts into the soil to prepare it for planting, God’s work in our lives often involves breaking, turning, and exposing what lies beneath.

But why does God allow this? The answer lies in 1 Peter 5:10:

"But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you."

The trials and struggles we endure are not random or cruel; they are the necessary preparation for a rich harvest. God is shaping us into the likeness of His Son and cultivating eternal fruit through us.

Trusting the Process

The prophet Isaiah asks, “Does the plowman keep plowing all day to sow? Does he keep turning his soil and breaking the clods?” (Isaiah 28:24). The answer is no. Just as a farmer doesn’t endlessly turn over the soil, God’s work in our lives has an end in view—a harvest of righteousness, faith, and spiritual maturity.

When we feel like we’re under the plow, it’s tempting to think the pain will last forever. But God assures us that this season is part of a larger purpose. As the devotional explains:

"This is necessary, we are looking ahead to a harvest, to real values; this is an essential aspect of the work. But… take comfort—this is not going on forever."

The plowing won’t last forever, but the fruit it produces will.

God’s Love in the Trial

One of the most comforting truths in today’s reflection is this:

"No matter what we may encounter in this life, we who belong to the Lord Jesus have this definite knowledge—our Father will use it all in love as an instrument in the carrying out of the glorious purpose to which He has destined us."

Whether God delivers us from a trial or strengthens us to endure it, His love is always at work. Every hardship, no matter how painful, is being used to prepare us for the eternal glory He has promised.

This doesn’t mean the trials are easy or that we won’t wrestle with doubt and fear. But it does mean that we can trust God’s heart, even when we don’t understand His hand.

Humbled Under His Mighty Hand

As we endure these seasons of plowing, we are called to humble ourselves before God. 1 Peter 5:6 encourages us:

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time."

Humility is not resignation or despair—it is surrendering to God’s perfect wisdom and trusting that His timing and purposes are good. When we place ourselves under His mighty hand, we position ourselves to receive His grace, strength, and eventual exaltation.

Encouragement for the Journey

If you feel like the furrows in your life are too deep, take heart. God’s plow is guided by His love, and He is preparing a harvest far greater than you can imagine. The trials you face are not wasted; they are tools in the hands of the divine Farmer, shaping you into the person He has called you to be.

James reminds us to “count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (James 1:2-3). But there’s an even greater joy beyond this refining work: the extraordinary privilege of seeing Christ at work. Trials are an opportunity—a sacred season where the Lord reveals His glorious beauty, working in and through us and touching the lives of others.

Consider Paul’s testimony in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, where he declares, "Most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me... For when I am weak, then I am strong." In our trials, Christ’s strength shines most brightly. His grace sustains us, and His Spirit flows through us to bless others in ways we might never have imagined.

So, embrace these seasons with joy, not only for what God is doing in you but for the privilege of witnessing His power and presence in action. Remember the promise of 1 Peter 5:10: after you have suffered for a little while, God Himself will perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. The season of plowing will end, and the harvest will come—abundant and overflowing with His glory.

A Prayer of Trust and Gratitude

Father, thank You for being the God of all grace, who works in every season of our lives for Your glory and our good. Though the plow cuts deep and the furrows feel overwhelming, we trust that You are preparing a harvest of eternal value. Thank You for teaching us to humble ourselves under Your mighty hand, knowing that You will exalt us in due time. May we rest in Your perfect love, confident that You are using every trial to perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle us. Amen.