Many acres of farmland spread out as my husband and I drove along the Upper and Central Texas Coast yesterday. Mainly corn, soybeans, maize, cotton and hay covered thousands of acres along the trip. When I saw the maize the Holy Spirit whispered a parable to me.

Maize, similar to corn but an important feed for cattle, grows on a tall stalk like corn but produces only one ear at the top. That whole plant’s life and energy work several months to provide a single product, that one ear. The parable shows that all the workings in our lives combine to produce the character God desires us to have, if we allow Him to lead us as He desires. Just as the root, the stalk, the leaves and the ear grow only for that one purpose, God uses everything to mature us in His Kingdom.

That doesn’t mean God sends whatever evil comes our way, but if we allow Him to work, then He will somehow use our circumstances to make us more into the image of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

James 1:2-4 (Amplified Bible): Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.

Rom 8:27-28 (AMP): And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God’s will.  [Psalm 139:1, 2.] We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.