I was out in my garden one evening and noticed how pathetic looking my parsley had become. Stunted, it had outgrown it’s container and was failing to thrive. The roots had no where to go to strengthen the growing plant.
As I worked in the dirt to relocate my parsley to a larger pot I was struck by the similarities that exist in my own life … and, as sometimes happens, ended up thinking about the parallels in someone else’s life.
This someone else had recently told me of some of their struggles and financial burdens and, to add to the weight of it all, their dryer had just died on them. They were suddenly thrust into a pot larger than they were used to. Their circumstances were bigger than they were. It was uncomfortable.
But this was the opportunity the Lord was using to build stronger roots. A chance for them to see the faithfulness of the Lord.
As they took their dryer apart in order to repair it they found within it the amount of cash they needed to buy the new part.
There is no room for coincidences or happy chances when you know the Lord is your all. May we be able to say as Job; “He gives and He takes away – blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Roots are essential to growth. But from time to time we become comfortable, stagnate, grown to our full potential where we are and God allows changes in our life to happen in order that our roots can grow deeper.
It’s not easy to recognize when we need to be transplanted, nor is the process of it enjoyable. Changes that take us out of our comfort zone are a challenge even for the most adventurous of us, but they are so essential for us to grow stronger in Christ.
We need to remember that we are weak and that it is only through His strength – us firmly rooted and grounded in Him – that we can do all things.
This week my attention was drawn to perseverance and the verses in 1 Timothy 2:4-6;
“No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.”
A unifying idea between the soldier, the athlete, and the farmer is that they aren’t looking at immediate rewards for their efforts, but rather steadfastly continuing on in their service, training, and labor towards a greater end.
Roots take time to grow deep.
The Lord’s timing is always perfect and right, but it doesn’t always feel so for us.
I did a quick google search on how to transplant my parsley properly, and while I read several different sources, they all agreed that proper care of the transplant was essential. It takes time for a plant to adjust to its larger pot and tender nurturing of it through the process is critical.
I’m not a good plant person, and my parsley may very well die soon after I post this, which would muddy up this imagery … but take the leap with me here – God is a good nurturer of His creation. He is a good (good) Father. When our circumstances, our pot, enlarges – His faithfulness remains steady.
“So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
{Ephesians 3:17-19}
