“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” — 1 Corinthians 3:6

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” — Psalm 127:1

I used to comment after a long day, “I’ve been pushing boulders.” It was my shorthand for frustration. It meant there was a lot of effort without much movement. Lots of energy, but not much impact.

That’s a frustrating place to live, especially if you’re wired for progress and driven by performance. When effort outpaces results, it can feel like you’re stuck. The wheels are spinning, but you’re going nowhere.

Recently, something shifted: not necessarily in my circumstances, but in my heart.

After a full day, I found myself saying instead, “I planted some seeds today.” Same kind of day, different posture. I did the work, but we would have to wait and see what the Lord would produce from it.

That change matters. We should do our work, but leave the rest to God.

Scripture frames our work as stewards of God’s creation. We are not the Creator. We are not responsible for the results. We are not called to control outcomes or resolve every uncertainty. We are not able to determine what ultimately happens. Rather, we are called to plant and water; to be fully engaged and to act faithfully. What takes root, what produces fruit, what remains dormant, those things remain under the Lord’s domain.

That’s the shift: from driving outcomes to trusting the One who governs them.

This is where faith and obedience meet. We obey—we still act, plan, and work hard. And we trust—we release the results to the Lord, confident that His purposes are greater than ours.

Because in the kingdom of God, faithfulness is our responsibility but fruitfulness is His.