Last year was a really tough year, but as winter seems to be loosening its grip on us, I’m beginning to think Spring and warm days and planting in my garden. That reminded me of a quote by Barbara Johnson, “If things are tough, remember that every flower had to go through a whole lot of dirt to get there.” 

That quote made me think of the growing cycle each plant goes through. We prepare the ground to give our plants a good place to grow. We plant the seed where we think it will do the best, water it, feed it, and wait for it to grow. 

The plant grows in silence; you can’t hear it come up out of the ground, but God is working on it, developing it, nurturing it. It starts as a strong, little stalk, leaves emerging, rising toward the sun. It gets battered by the wind and rain, burned by the sun, needs proper water and weeding and must endure much before it begins to bud and flower. It constantly points and grows toward the sun for survival. Without the sun, there can be no development and strength, only weakness, withering, and finally death. 

Weeds can choke out the plant, so it needs to be carefully cultivated, but the blooms, when they come, are beautiful and bring beauty and hope to us. The flower then produces seeds, which are necessary for reproduction and future beauty.

God gives us so many examples in nature of His loving care of us. His provisions of the feeding, watering, Son’s warmth, protection and care are evident all around us, and the longer we know Him the more obvious they are. 

When we receive Christ as Lord and Savior of our life a seed is planted in us, a new life begins to grow. Much of our growth is in silence as we read the Bible and spend time daily with God. It takes time for reading, praying, “pondering” things, (as Mary did), and we grow a little at a time at first. God doesn’t dump it all on us at once; we learn one thing at a time and practice it as He teaches us. And just as the plant comes through the dirt and becomes visible, so our faith begins to be visible to others. We begin to feel the difference and feel the joy God has in store for us, as the light of God’s love shines on our life. 

 God wants us to have joy. Joy in the Lord is not happiness; it is an indwelling understanding that God loves us and desires to dwell within us. Happiness is fleeting, but joy doesn’t depend on our circumstances.

John 15:9-14, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this; Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.”

I have learned about Christ in so many ways over the years, from books written by great Christians, sermons, Bible study classes and friends, but most of my growth came from those quiet times I spent alone reading the Bible, praying, and listening to my Savior. Those are the times my roots went deep into the knowledge of God and how to apply that to my life. Those deep roots have kept me strong in life’s most difficult times. 

Knowledge of God is great, but we need God’s wisdom to learn how to apply it to our lives. There is a saying, “Knowledge puffs up, but Wisdom builds up.” The growth takes time, it needs to be cultivated and watered daily by the Word of God. John 15:15-17, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My name. This is my command; Love each other.”

He chose us. He planted us right where we are. He nurtures us and helps us to grow in our knowledge of Him. He gives us of His wisdom. He helps us to bloom. He expects us to plant seeds along the way and help others to grow in their knowledge of Him. His light shines down on us and enlightens us as we look up to Him. He loves us.

May your life bloom and bring you joy as you look UP to your Creater, the Master Gardener.