Inspired by 2 Peter 3:8-9
I almost uprooted these flowers. These beautiful lilies. I bought the bulbs in April from a local Walmart. I figured I’d give this gardening thing a go, even though I have never really had a green thumb. It’s more recently been a dream of mine to have a beautiful cut flower garden and I figured, “why not now?”. I picked up a ton of seeds and bulbs and googled how to plant them and care for them, because what else would a novice do? Up until this week, my other flowers were thriving. I wouldn’t say I’ve had a ton of bouquets to cut and share with others, as I had hoped to have, but I’ve definitely had enough to decorate my own home with fresh cuts every week.
Then there were these lilies. They took forever to show any sign of life as my other flowers were growing and thriving. I would look at this container full of dirt and wonder if I had even planted the lilies… I tend to be quite forgetful, so this possibility isn’t really as far-fetched as it sounds. Finally, about six weeks after planting, I had one tiny sprout pop up… and then another… and soon there were FIVE. This was still not great, as I had planted eight bulbs, but hey, at least it was something! They grew really fast, but never showed signs of flowering. Two weeks ago, I thought about uprooting them. I figured that, if they weren’t going to flower, I could plant something in their place that would grow fast and produce something. But, I waited, and within the past week I have had multiple flowers bloom! As I was showing a dear friend and mentor of mine the blooms via our weekly video chat, she brought up the thought that maybe we could learn something from this.
I usually plant seeds with the hopes that they will grow, flourish, and thrive early on. We live in a culture that expects instant gratification, the “magic bullet”, the “quick fix”. If I need something, I can order it online and have it shipped to me within a day. If I have a question on something, I can just google it and have hundreds of thousands of results within less than a few seconds. I cannot deny that I often desire this in my spiritual life as well, even though God’s word makes it clear that I need to be patient for HIS timing instead of my own (2 Peter 3:8-9, Galatians 6:9-10). In the meantime, I am instructed to be patient in affliction, faithful in prayer (Romans 12:12), and lean on HIS understanding over my own (Proverbs 3:5-6). Ultimately, I can do any amount of planning that I desire, but it is the LORD’S plan that will prevail (Proverbs 16:9).
I am so thankful that I did not uproot these lilies but instead continued to water the soil and wait. I would have never seen these beautiful blooms. But also, there’s more to be learned from something as simple as these lilies. James 5:7-8 instructs us to be PATIENT and STAND FIRM, waiting expectantly for the Lord's coming. The past six months have been a rollercoaster. I have experienced both wonderful and dark times, joy and pain, happy and sad. It’s been a crazy ride. It is so much easier to consider uprooting in difficult times, instead of holding fast to obedience and trusting in the Lord’s timing. I considered uprooting at multiple different times and in multiple different ways within the past few months, to be completely honest. However, every time I prayed, I felt like I was getting the answer – just wait.
*Wait, because GOD is doing something here.
*Wait, because God might be preparing the soil for something better.
*Wait, because God might be teaching you something unique in this phase of your life, if you would only stop to listen.
*Wait, because God might be helping you pull the weeds out so the good fruit can experience much more growth.
*Wait, because the Lord’s timing is so much better than your own.
*Wait, because you need to learn to lean into the Lord and get into His Word in times when you feel like nothing is pulling together in the way you think it is supposed to.
*Wait, because the Lord knows best.
*Wait, because there’s a good chance that by waiting, holding fast to prayer and obedience, dwelling within His presence in difficult times, and trusting in His plan, you’ll see HIM.
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Scripture References:
2 Peter 3:8-9
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Galatians 6:9-10
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family believers.
Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 16:9
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.
James 5:7-8
Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.
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