For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
But how is this like the word that goes out from God's mouth? Certainly, no one can argue that water has a life giving role, just as God's word brings life and truth into our lives. But it's not a fast process.
I can't see a one to one correlation between seven March snow flakes and a kernel of oats sprouting in June. It's a long, meandering journey from last month's snow storm to a slice of fresh warm bread.
For this reason, I don't think we should teach our children that having morning devotions will bring you a good day or that seven Bible verses a day will keep the devil away. To be honest, I've had some of my (pick one) best/worst days when I have spent (pick one) a lot/hardly any time reading and thinking about God's words to me. It's not generally so direct, not so obvious in the minute to minute living of our lives.
Is God at work? Certainly.
Does His word matter? Without a doubt.
Is it easy to see that? Not always...
it shall not return to Me empty,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
I'm realizing that this journey takes a long time, a life time, and we may have to wait that long to see what God is doing.
Sometimes we can't track the path from the puddle to the purpose of God.
But that doesn't mean He isn't at work.
It means He isn't finished.