Bloom Where You Are Planted, Then Bloom Again

Several weeks ago, the backyard was covered in a spray of color. My spring flowers had been well-watered from the gentle rains and stood tall and proud of their beauty. They attracted many hummingbirds and the fragrance they gave forth was well worth the effort of caring for them. But as time slipped by, the flowers began to lose their vibrant colors. Before long, all that remained was an ugly evidence that the blooms were long past.

Since the fragrance was no longer detectable and the flowers had become an eyesore, I retreated to the garage to find my clippers. With clippers in hand, I sat and carefully cut the stem of each and every wilted flower in hopes of spurring the plants to bloom once again. Even if the plants did not, I was satisfied that the plants appeared much healthier with the dead parts removed.

Several days passed and I noticed the plants had produced another round of small buds. Obviously, removing the dead flowers and stems had allowed the plants to focus on producing new growth. In several days, I am expecting my yard to once again be filled with beautiful, fragrant flowers and the benefits that accompany them.

As I look forward to enjoying new flowers, I can't help but wonder what area of my own life needs pruning. While I am happy to bloom where I am planted, I often resist when the Master Gardener takes out his pruners to remove what was once beautiful and fragrant, but has lost its luster. Although the pruning is uncomfortable for a time, the result is a life that is able to bloom again, bring glory to the Father.

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that pruduces fruit so that it will produce more fruit."

John 15: 1-2, HCSB

While I'm Waiting

I can be a very impatient person. I know what I want and I am not one to sit around and wait for things to happen. I like to make things happen. I like to be in control. I get anxious when I am forced to wait.

Yet, waiting seems to be a part of my life everyday. I wait for my children. I wait for my husband. I even find myself waiting for people I do not even know. However, these times seem trivial when compared to some of the eternal things I find myself waiting for. You see, I often find myself waiting on God.

Today I am waiting on healing for a mentor and friend. I am waiting on deliverance from temptations that I cannot escape on my own. I am waiting on answers to prayers first prayed years ago. And the list goes on and on.

I look to the Scriptures to find encouragement. Early in the book of Genesis, I find I am not the only one who had to learn to patiently wait on God. Let me share a few examples-

• Abraham waited 25 years before his promised son was conceived.
• Joseph waited 13 years for deliverance from slavery and imprisonment.
• Moses wonder why God has sparred his life for 80 years before God spoke to him from the burning bush to give him direction and purpose.
• The Hebrew people left Egypt after 430 years of waiting for God's mighty hand of deliverance.

The Scriptures are full of believers who faithfully waited on God's purpose and plan. His plan was perfect every time. I pray that I can learn to do the same.

Even if I cannot clearly see the path I must take, I still desire to walk obediently. I pray for a heart that will draw close to Him and offer sincere worship while I wait. Although I cannot know or begin to understand the details of His plan, I can rest assured in His purpose. Besides drawing encouragement from the examples in Scripture, I can also find countless verses that offer me hope and peace while I'm waiting.

"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way."
James 1:2-4 The Message

"I know what I am doing. I have it all planned out-plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for."
Jeremiah 29:11 The Message