Ecclesiastes 11:3-4 – “If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree falls to the south or the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie. 4 He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.”  NKJV

I am a fan of adequate planning and having a strategy but sometimes you have to implement the plan even in the face of potential obstacles.  If you are waiting for the perfect day or the perfect conditions you will find yourself in the paralysis of analysis and accomplish nothing.  The Bible tells us that the rain falls on the just and unjust alike.  A cloud that is full of rain does not discriminatory as to where it dumps its rain.  Wherever it is when the conditions are conducive is where the rain falls, desert or forest.  When a tree falls in the forest it has died and will lie wherever it has fallen and in the condition it has fallen.  In life the condition we find ourselves at the time of our earthly departure is the state we will spend eternity in.  Thus it is imperative that we insure that our hearts are turned to God at all times.

Then we come to verse 4 and receive a stern warning about the paralysis of analysis.  If we are looking for a perfect time to launch out we will never launch.  If we are overly conscious of the clouds and winds of adversity we will become paralyzed and not sow and if we do not sow we will not reap.  The devil understands this analogy and principle as well, if not better, than we and uses it against us whenever possible.

We can be overly meticulous and thereby our over attention to the intricate details will render us inactive.  It is always wise to fully evaluate a situation and pray about it carefully, fully and diligently.  However, if we allow the winds of adversity to capture our attention we will become paralyzed with trepidation and that timidity will keep us on the sidelines.  The principle of sowing and reaping requires sowing to have reaping.  Even if we have sown but focus on the clouds and possible storms of opposition we will fail to go into the fields and reap no productive harvest.  We can analyze to the point that we are paralyzed, immobile and inactive and although we have a great mission and commission set before us we will fail in our assignment because we allow external circumstances to dictate our involvement.

Jesus has promised to never leave us and we know that we are more than conquerors through Him therefore though all hell assail us heaven will not fail us and if we refuse to grow weary in well doing we will reap if we do not faint.  I would suggest there may never be a time we view as perfect to launch into that which is in our hearts for the Kingdom.  There will always be opposition and if we understand that opposition is often evidence we are headed in the right direction we will be more emboldened in our labors.

The winds may blow but you must sow!  The clouds may become dark and ominous but we must thrust our sickles and harvest the grain.  I urge you to ask the LORD to help you guard against the terribleness of the paralysis of analysis and become a doer of the word not just a hearer or planner.   There is a time for everything and after the planning, preparation and prayer it is time to roll up our sleeves and engage in the labor.

            God bless you as you go through this day!