"The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing." (Proverbs 20:4)

For a few years in a row, I decided to run an ultra-marathon in February. This decision — wise or not I do not know — forced me to train in December and January, two of the worst months to get outdoors and run. On many days all I wanted was to stay inside by the Christmas tree and eat donuts, but the training schedule called. During those years, I learned a thing or two about working when conditions are not favorable.

Our proverb says it this way: plowing in autumn is hard, so the sluggard does not do it. During those cold and rainy months, the bed calls. For the lazy man, this means the field is left unplowed and unplanted. He wants the fruit because everyone loves fruit, but he is unwilling to put in the hard work during the hard days to get that fruit.

If you want to bear fruit unto God, if you want to perform on race day, you must work hard when the days are hard. You must show up and rise when it is difficult to do so. You cannot have a great marriage without some work in the fruitless seasons. You cannot have a great church without some work during the dry times. You cannot have a great impact without some work in those private and early hours. We all want the harvest, so, by the power of His Spirit, let us put in the hard work during the hard days.