Ryan Wilhite

“A Time for Everything”

Are you fixating on your problems or looking at things from an eternal perspective.

This is definitely a tough one and something I struggle with in certain areas. Sometimes I let fear or internal anger takeover and lose sight of the bigger picture.

When you focus on the problems, you’ll always have more problems. We have to look at everything from God’s point of view. Only He can help us stay positive and feel at peace. Even when He seems silent, He still there working behind the scenes. 

It’s important to be still and trust that He always has a greater plan.

Looking back, I have to laugh at how certain situations looked hopeless in the moment, worried my self sick, but God had a much greater plan and purpose behind it.

You’d think I’d be able to trust Him with everything that comes my way from everything I’ve seen. 

It’s easy to say you trust Him, but do you fully trust Him with everything in your life? Often times we still want to control the situation instead of giving it all to God. 

Holding on to that is a lot of weight to carry. God doesn’t want us to carry that weight alone. 

Even though I love God with all of my heart and share about Him constantly, I am still human and have my struggles or hard days. 

I’ve been tested severally with this recently in a horrible situation. I’m sure many can relate or have similar testimonies. God sees you and He will get us through these trials and tribulations. 

Know that God is working even when He seems silent. Seeds are being planted in the darkness and the harvest will come with His perfect timing.

When we’re going through disastrous looking storms it’s easy to get caught up in the what ifs and how bad the situation is.

God is usually quick to remind me that there is always purpose in the pain. He allows us to go through certain things to refine us, grow our faith and write a testimony that will bring Him glory and help others.

Currently one of the biggest decisions I have to make is when do I go back to the farm to get equipment ready and start planting. I’ve let God make that decision and open the right door, ever since I started farming.

From the outside looking in, this probably makes it look like I’m being foolish or have no clue what I’m doing when it comes to farming. I’ve actually heard that others have said things like that to people that are close to me.

I get excited when that happens because God opens a door to share testimony. If you’re walking closely with God and letting Him lead you, you’re probably gonna seem crazy and foolish. 

Think about Noah and many other great men in the Bible. People called Noah crazy until it began to rain. It’s so important not to listen to others or try to be smart on your own from being realistic.

1 Corinthians 1:27 says “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”

God spoke to me very clearly this winter before we found out what treatments my wife needed, to not go back to the farm until He tells me too.

That could have been mid April, May or even June. That’s about the whole planting window for where I farm. Realistically the earlier the better, but every season is different. 

You know God is guiding you when you feel a peace that doesn’t make sense. This journey still isn’t over as my wife will have more appointments and treatment ahead. 

People have reached out wondering when I’m starting. There’s already field work being done and planting going on in our area. 

I hadn’t really stepped foot on my farm until this past week since putting equipment away for the winter after last harvest. God has us living three hours away from the farm for a much greater purpose.

For years I worked myself to death, working long hours for the wrong reasons and trying to control things. Even though I said I trusted God, I was a wreck inside.

God needed to strip that identity away from me. I used to be stressed to the max and worried sick over everything my first few years of farming. 

I still believe in working hard and doing it all for God, but you have to be careful of making it an idol.

I have no anxious thoughts about being behind or not even thinking about starting yet. God is truly in control and His timing and plans are always perfect. 

He’s never failed me in the past and He won’t start now or in the future. I have stories from every single planting and harvest since I started the operation, where He forced me into the right window.

It may not look like everyone else, but it’s always been for a greater purpose. May not have been the best window for our area or equalled a successful season.

But success is measured different in God’s eyes. There’s still been many challenging and difficult circumstances. Following God and listening to Him won’t eliminate those.

He does promise to always be with you though and use it all for the good. No matter the outcome, our faith and hope is in Him alone.

Last Friday she started hormonal treatments. Monthly shots and daily pills that can have severe side effects. 

So there are still many appointments and obstacles coming up. We’re praying that God will guide all of that and won’t have any of the bad side effects that are possible with them.

I will be there for every appointment and whenever my wife needs me, no matter what the calendar or weather is doing. Gods made it clear to focus on Him and my family.

He tells us not to watch the weather or anything else. Plant and harvest when He tells us. This isn’t just about farming. You can apply that to your life no matter what you’re doing.

You need to let Him guide you on every little decision, when to speak and listen, where to go and what to do. The Holy Spirit is always with us and it’s up to us to be obedient. 

Ecclesiastes 11:4 says “Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.”

If you wait for perfect conditions you’ll never plant. If you overanalyze the forecast, you’ll miss your window. Let God lead the way.

Stay surrendered and let the Holy Spirit guide you. Be still and ask God to help you see things from an eternal perspective. Always live by faith and not sight!