Every fortnight people from a farming background, or who have a heart for the countryside in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, offer a personal reflection on faith and rural life. They hope that you will be encouraged by it.

Farming revolves around the seasons. Sometimes the weather is not as expected, but we always seem to manage the normal procedures at roughly the usual time. Our daily work is dictated by these routines: lambing and planting take centre stage in the spring, silage is cut throughout the summer months, and crops are harvested in the autumn.

A time for everything

The writer of Ecclesiastes 3:1 in the Old Testament tells us that, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens....” Personally, my favourite season is summer. When the flowers are in full bloom and the long, clear evenings stretch out, the hard work on the farm becomes so much more manageable.

placeholder image — Farming revolves around the seasons.

It is also true that our lives go through distinct seasons - moving from childhood and the teenage years into adulthood, middle age, and eventually the senior years. I am in my senior years (though I’m not quite sure how it happened so quickly!) Yet, it is probably only now I feel a fuller sense of contentment.

There are still many things I would like to achieve. While ambition is good - and it is absolutely right to strive to improve our lives and farming practices - it shouldn’t become all-consuming. Striving for growth should never come at the expense of enjoying what God has given us today.

Throughout my life, I have faced five surgeries: three were emergencies, one was red-flagged, and one was planned. Through these health battles and other difficult times, I found that God was most real to me, serving as my true comfort.

So often we may feel like God is distant, but he is ever-present. I am reminded of this whenever I look out my window at the Mourne Mountains. Some days, I can see them in all their majesty. Other days, they are completely shrouded in mist and hidden from view. Yet, even when I can't see them, I know they are always there. God’s presence is exactly the same.

Learning the secret

In Philippians 4:11-12, the Apostle Paul writes,"...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…”

While I still find it difficult to match the depth of Paul's contentment, I now understand that life on earth will never be perfect and I will never be able to control everything that happens. It’s vital to appreciate the good things we have today. We need to live in the moment rather than always looking to the future or the past. Sometimes, we can be more interested in capturing a photo of a moment than actually stopping to enjoy it.

Ultimately, true contentment can only come when we know Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. It comes when we draw our strength from his presence and provision, rather than our external circumstances.

I have to admit, I have often asked, “Why, God? And why now?” In those moments, I continually need to remind myself of the words in Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

No matter what season of life, or farming, you find yourself in today, Jesus wants to carry your burdens. He invites us all to repent from our sins and trust in him.

Charlotte Stevenson farms with her husband, Jim and son, James, near Kilkeel in County Down. She is a member of Mourne Presbyterian. Having worked at the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s Assembly Buildings in Belfast for a number of years. In December 2017, Charlotte retired. If you would like to talk to someone about any of the issues raised in this article, you can call Rural Support on 028 8676 0040. You can also email Rev Kenny Hanna, PCI’s Rural Chaplain at [email protected] or call him on 07938 488 372.