"He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." (Psalm 1:3).

The above verse describes the man who delights in the law of the LORD, meditating on Scripture day and night. He is not sucked into the course of this world, but instead lives a life filled with the things of God. He delights in the word of God and makes it his continual feast.

What results from such a life of Bible love? What comes from a life which pursues righteousness by pursuing God? This person becomes like a tree, growing, alive, and fruitful.

And the life they display never fades, for the leaf on this tree does not wither. Everything they do prospers.

But focus for a moment on the description of the fruit. "He is like a tree...that yields fruit in its season." Most trees do not bear fruit year-round but have seasons for fruitfulness. Humans who walk with God, it seems, are the same. We have seasons of greater fruitfulness than others.

Wisdom About Fruitfulness

One of the tricks of life is to know when your fruitfulness in one area of life is drying up, and when a new season has come. I do not mean to press the Psalm 1 simile too far, for Jesus promised a life of fruitfulness is available to those who abide in him. I don't think we should expect a year of fruitfulness to follow a year of dryness. Instead, what I mean to focus on, is waiting for God to produce those seasons of intense fruitfulness.

In my walk with Christ, there have been many times I've been impatient and have wanted to make a more significant impact than I was at the time. Wrestling with the Lord over it, I've often heard him say, "You do what you're supposed to, and I'll do what I'm supposed to. You abide. You delight in the word. And I will plant you. Those nutrients will get into you. Fruit will come. The season will arrive."

But the gap between taking in the water of God's word and actual fruitfulness is often painful for believers to endure through. We read a verse and want to apply it right now — instant fruit. And, though application is a necessary ingredient to Bible study, it is essential to internalize the truth of God's word long enough for actual fruit to manifest itself. The season will come.

An Exhortation to My Younger Siblings in Christ

I especially have my younger brothers and sisters in Christ in mind right now. I hope you want to make a difference in this world. If you do, thank you. But be willing to allow the strongest seasons of fruitfulness to come. You are surrounded by images of people your age who took off like a rocket. Upon seeing them, you feel pressured to get going. You might even be tempted to believe your younger years are the ones which will most significantly impact the world.

But abide in him. Love him and his word. If you do, slowly and almost imperceptively, fruit will begin to grow. The season of impact will come. And, over time, you will become more fruitful than you ever dreamed.