Written by Monica Kirsch, Content Writer

Philippians 1:6, Luke 13:6-9, Ephesians 2:10, Galatians 6:9

There’s an old saying that “the last thing to grow on a fruit tree is the fruit.” Have you ever visited an orchard of fruit trees? Personally, I think fruit always tastes better when it’s picked directly from the tree. And when I go to an orchard, I somehow inevitably end up bringing home exponentially more fruit that I could ever eat on my own. Those trees are just teeming with so much beautiful, delicious fruit, that once I start picking, it’s hard to stop! 


Did you know that most fruit trees take several years to produce fruit after they’re planted? Think about that for a second. First, a tree needs time to grow from a seedling to a sapling. Then, once that sapling is planted, it needs even more time to start producing fruit.

As we learned last week, Advent is a season of waiting. It’s a time of anticipating that God will be faithful to finish the work He has started (Phil. 1:6). But how often does that thing we’re waiting for look like a fruitless tree?

It reminds me of the parable of the barren fig tree in Luke 13:

“A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” — Luke 13:6-9

As it turns out, fig trees are not unlike other fruit trees. In fact, it’s not uncommon for a fig tree to take anywhere between three and five years to produce ripe fruit after it’s planted. Furthermore, fig trees typically go through cycles where they’ll produce fruit, and then enter a period of rest. It’s not even unusual for a perfectly healthy fig tree to stop producing fruit. Experts even say it’s so normal, it’s not even a reason for concern.

But the vineyard owner was concerned. His tree was not producing figs, and he was ready to throw in the towel. He’d been waiting for three years, and nothing was happening. Surely, it was time to move on.

Have you ever felt like the vineyard owner? Have you ever anticipated something for so long, prayed the same prayer until you felt like a broken record, or hoped until you felt like all hope was lost?

It’s easy to grow weary in our waiting. But the fig tree reminds us that, more often than not, there is more happening than meets the eye. On the outside, it looks like something is wrong with the tree! But beneath the surface, the necessary preparations are still taking place. The tree is still preparing to bear fruit.

I find it interesting that the fig trees’ fruitless seasons aren’t called periods of dormancy, but periods of rest. Throughout the Scriptures, we read about the Sabbath—one day each week when the Jewish people would cease all work, not only as a means of refreshment, but as a way to intentionally spend time with the Lord and recognize their dependence on Him. In order for their lives to be fruitful, rest was necessary.

Dependence requires a great deal of trust. And when we’re hoping for something to happen, circumstances to change, prayers to be answered…the waiting can feel stifling. We wonder how we wound up here, what we’re doing wrong, and why it seems like God is being silent.

But what if the best preparation doesn’t come from the doing, but the being? What if, in the silence, God is simply asking us to rest in His presence and trust that He is preparing us for good works (Ephesians 2:10). So, friend, in whatever seemingly fruitless season you may find yourself in this Advent, don’t grow weary, “for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9).

One day, you may just find yourself teeming with fruit, and you’ll see that God was preparing you all along.