Ecclesiastes 11 and the Freedom to Scatter Faithfully

There are days I look at all the things I’ve started—the dreams, the planners, the tabs open in my brain—and I wonder if any of it will lead to something solid.

If you’re like me, especially if your brain is wired a little differently, you might’ve been told that starting too many things is a flaw. That branching out is a sign of inconsistency. That you need to "pick one lane" or else you’re being irresponsible.

But then I open Ecclesiastes 11, and it feels like God is gently whispering back, “That might not be the whole story.”

The Teacher writes:

“Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. Give a portion to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land…”(Ecclesiastes 11:1–2)

It sounds like wisdom for someone who isn’t guaranteed anything—and who moves forward anyway.

What If You’re Wired to Scatter?

As a behavioral coach, especially working with neurodivergent women, I hear it all the time: “I just need to figure out which one of these things to do.” But the deeper fear underneath is this: “If I don’t choose the right thing, I’ll mess everything up.”

Ecclesiastes 11 tells a different story. The Teacher is describing someone who wisely spreads out their investment. Someone who sows in more than one direction because they trust that God controls the outcomes, not them. There’s no promise of perfect clarity. Just an invitation to release control and move anyway.

That sounds a lot like what it means to live with a neurodivergent mind—especially one that's learned to try, pivot, adjust, and try again. You’re not "all over the place." You’re responsive. You’re creative. You’re reading the room while staying tender to the Spirit’s leading. And here’s the thing: Ecclesiastes doesn’t rebuke the scatter. It blesses it.

When Perfectionism Paralyzes Progress

A few verses later, it says:

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

If you’re waiting for just the right time, the perfect conditions, or the mental clarity that never seems to come, you may find yourself stuck. And not because you’re lazy—but because you’ve been carrying the weight of getting it exactly right.

But this verse isn’t about hustling harder. It’s about releasing that need for perfection. The behavioral shifts we’re working toward in coaching aren’t about rigid performance. They’re about building repeatable habits that work on your hardest days, not just your ideal ones.

That means starting imperfectly. That means letting your small obedience matter, even when you’re not sure how it all fits together yet.

God Works in What You Cannot See

Ecclesiastes 11:5 reminds us:

“As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.”

We’re not meant to understand all the outcomes. We’re not even required to. What we are called to do is move forward with wisdom, offer our work to the Lord, and stay open to the mystery of how He brings growth.

In behavioral coaching, we talk a lot about building systems that reduce friction. But I also want to gently remind you: you cannot systematize sovereignty. Your job is to sow. God’s job is the harvest.

And if you need to try several different things to find what sticks? That’s not disobedience. That’s what it means to be human. That’s what it means to be wonderfully wired.

So What Does Faithful Scattering Look Like?

It’s not frantic. It’s not perfectionistic. It’s not trying to impress God or anyone else with your productivity.

Faithful scattering means you plant small seeds with a willing heart. You let the Lord determine which ones grow and when. You release your grip on timelines and open your hands to grace.

It means you stop asking, “What if none of this works?” and start asking, “What if God shows up in ways I didn’t expect?”

And maybe that’s the most freeing part. Because Ecclesiastes 11 doesn’t tell us to know the future. It tells us to show up and sow anyway.

If you’re building new behaviors, stepping into a new season, or learning to live inside your unique wiring, you don’t need to get it all right. You just need to move with faith. One seed at a time.

And let God do what only He can do.