Looking at my small vegetable garden a few weeks ago, I was losing hope. Will tomatoes grow on such short plants, I wondered? And those poor pepper plants are such a sight. Well, I sighed, I will just have to wait and see.
The temptation to argue is strong, and we sometimes do. It is hard, we don't want to be at odds. But we have been practicing finishing the discussion, heated or not. We have started depending on each other intentionally instead of habitually. Communication and understanding have been our greatest tools. But the process is messy, even uncomfortable. The honesty is humbling and hard. But we are determined to not give up.
After 2 weeks of excessive heat, I finally went out to check on my garden. I hadn't changed the watering cycle, and I was worried that I might have lost some of those stunted plants because of the intense weather. At first I didn't understand. What had happened to my garden? There in the place of my short tomatoes plants were 7 large healthy plants, quite literally twice the height and thickness they had been only a few weeks before. I am not a master gardener and cannot explain the process, but God used that image of stronger healthier plants after a time of intense stress to show me what He will do in our lives, if we will stop trying to run for cover and let Him.
I am in a time of transition in my life right now. My husband and I are trying to balance our responsibilities to work, home, and each other. Our kids are adults, coming and going, as they search out their next stepping stones in the world at large. Just when I thought life was going to get easier, we are facing challenges, dealing with the big platter of spaghetti that we call our lives. As we deal with one string of spaghetti, trying to follow through to the end, we find it is tangled up with 5 other things. Situations and issues that are in process, on hold, not budging, resisting, complex, not easily understood or resolved. There are no quick fixes. No simply putting things in order.
The temptation to argue is strong, and we sometimes do. It is hard, we don't want to be at odds. But we have been practicing finishing the discussion, heated or not. We have started depending on each other intentionally instead of habitually. Communication and understanding have been our greatest tools. But the process is messy, even uncomfortable. The honesty is humbling and hard. But we are determined to not give up.
The message in church was about saying yes to God in every season (of course it was). We should take advantage of tough times to grow. Not every day will be like this, so don't worry about tomorrow, or obsess over how this will never end. Trust God. Ask Him to give you eyes to recognize, and a heart that understands, what He wants to do inside of you in the midst of your troubles. If you will let Him.
Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.
5 If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him; he will not resent it. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to tell you, for a doubtful mind will be as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind; 7-8 and every decision you then make will be uncertain, as you turn first this way and then that. If you don’t ask with faith, don’t expect the Lord to give you any solid answer.
James 1:2-8 TLB
James 1:2-8 TLB
7 The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore be earnest, thoughtful men of prayer. 8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love makes up for many of your faults.[c] 9 Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay for the night.
I Peter 4:7-9 TLB
Dear Lord, thank You for using the messed up situations in our lives to accomplish good things inside of each of us including cleaning out trash we might not have realized was still in there. What the enemy intends for evil, we know You can use for some good purpose in our lives (see Genesis 50:20). We thank You for Your faithfulness towards us. In Jesus name, amen.
Written by Mary M. Wilkins
Often if we are not careful we will react and become upset without ever getting the lesson to be learned in a time of adversity. If you have nit memorized Genesis 50:20 today will be a good day to do it.
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