Have you ever asked this question during a time in your life when it seemed as if the whole world was against you and one thing after another went wrong? Everything from failed relationships, mechanical issues and an unexpected
medical report to those smaller, nit-picky things such as oversleeping the alarm, dropping an over-ripe berry onto a new outfit (the outfit being white, of course), or stubbing your toe. While some of these things happen because of our poor choices, some of them are not. You know that if one more piece of bad news is received, or one more thing doesn’t work as it was designed to do, you would scream as you ‘went down for the third time’ beneath the tidal wave of life-circumstances to never again resurface. While this sentiment is over-exaggerated, I think we have all been there at varying times and unanimously agree that we would prefer to not repeat
them.
Job 8:11 “Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds thrive without
water?”
A recent bout of personal challenges made me think about the flower and vegetable seeds I have diligently tended to over the last few weeks while trying to get them to germinate indoors so I could have seedlings to plant outdoors at the proper time. Some of the seeds began to grow and pop their little green heads through the soil almost immediately without me having to do more than simply poke them into the dirt and apply a squirt of water. But, with other seeds, it was not so. Day after day, these seeds didn’t make any show of growth. And finally, after many weeks of no apparent sign of germination – and feeling great frustration over having, once again, wasted time, effort and materials over one more growing season – I carefully researched why these seeds had not sprouted and discovered that, while most seeds need no special treatment to germinate, other seeds have very specific requirements that must be met before
germination could occur.
Seeds with a coat so hard that it cannot absorb moisture have to go through a process called ‘scarification.’ This means that their coats needs to be broken or scratched either by something sharp (i.e. knife, fingernail file or sandpaper), by passing through an animal’s digestive tract, or by enduring heat (such as in a forest fire) that results in chemical changes to the seed so that germination can take place.
Other seeds need to go through a ‘stratification’ process which is where seeds are exposed to cold, moist conditions that trigger the growth process. Still other seeds benefit by soaking in water, or by being in either total darkness or complete light for a specified period of time. Once the proper conditions are met for each seed’s requirement, germination is almost sure to
follow.
1 Corinthians 15:38 “When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body.”
God designed both seeds and humans with specific requirements for all the stages of life. Each – both seeds and humans - exhibits similar characteristics in the growth process. While every human has exactly the same life lessons to learn, we come to understand specific skills through differing circumstances, usually at varying speeds and at dissimilar times. It is God who provides the proper conditions for each of us during specific seasons in our life. While we may not understand why we experience certain situations or events, God does have a reason for them even if we cannot see what that reason is right now, or even if we won’t see it until some distant point in the future, if ever.
Ecclesiastes 11:5 “As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.”
Some of us may require a passage through darkness. Yet God is there illuminating the path.
Psalm 18:28 “You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.”
Sometimes our path takes us through the heat of the fire or into deep waters. Yet God is right there with us – protecting us all the way.
Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through
the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
Every circumstance is an opportunity for our growth and, always, for God’s glory to shine. If we don’t lose heart, God will renew us day by day …
2 Corinthians 4:16 “ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”
… and will also reveal to us the wisdom we need to glean for growth from each situation if we but ask Him.
James 1:2-5 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
In the midst of the seasons full of “why me” questions, He longs to show you His kindness and compassion.
Isaiah 30:18 “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you
compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!”
Will you wait for Him? Once your seed germinates, a beautiful garden of fragrant blooms is just on the other side of this period of growth.
Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
He’s waiting for you.
(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)
medical report to those smaller, nit-picky things such as oversleeping the alarm, dropping an over-ripe berry onto a new outfit (the outfit being white, of course), or stubbing your toe. While some of these things happen because of our poor choices, some of them are not. You know that if one more piece of bad news is received, or one more thing doesn’t work as it was designed to do, you would scream as you ‘went down for the third time’ beneath the tidal wave of life-circumstances to never again resurface. While this sentiment is over-exaggerated, I think we have all been there at varying times and unanimously agree that we would prefer to not repeat
them.
Job 8:11 “Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds thrive without
water?”
A recent bout of personal challenges made me think about the flower and vegetable seeds I have diligently tended to over the last few weeks while trying to get them to germinate indoors so I could have seedlings to plant outdoors at the proper time. Some of the seeds began to grow and pop their little green heads through the soil almost immediately without me having to do more than simply poke them into the dirt and apply a squirt of water. But, with other seeds, it was not so. Day after day, these seeds didn’t make any show of growth. And finally, after many weeks of no apparent sign of germination – and feeling great frustration over having, once again, wasted time, effort and materials over one more growing season – I carefully researched why these seeds had not sprouted and discovered that, while most seeds need no special treatment to germinate, other seeds have very specific requirements that must be met before
germination could occur.
Seeds with a coat so hard that it cannot absorb moisture have to go through a process called ‘scarification.’ This means that their coats needs to be broken or scratched either by something sharp (i.e. knife, fingernail file or sandpaper), by passing through an animal’s digestive tract, or by enduring heat (such as in a forest fire) that results in chemical changes to the seed so that germination can take place.
Other seeds need to go through a ‘stratification’ process which is where seeds are exposed to cold, moist conditions that trigger the growth process. Still other seeds benefit by soaking in water, or by being in either total darkness or complete light for a specified period of time. Once the proper conditions are met for each seed’s requirement, germination is almost sure to
follow.
1 Corinthians 15:38 “When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body.”
God designed both seeds and humans with specific requirements for all the stages of life. Each – both seeds and humans - exhibits similar characteristics in the growth process. While every human has exactly the same life lessons to learn, we come to understand specific skills through differing circumstances, usually at varying speeds and at dissimilar times. It is God who provides the proper conditions for each of us during specific seasons in our life. While we may not understand why we experience certain situations or events, God does have a reason for them even if we cannot see what that reason is right now, or even if we won’t see it until some distant point in the future, if ever.
Ecclesiastes 11:5 “As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.”
Some of us may require a passage through darkness. Yet God is there illuminating the path.
Psalm 18:28 “You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.”
Sometimes our path takes us through the heat of the fire or into deep waters. Yet God is right there with us – protecting us all the way.
Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through
the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
Every circumstance is an opportunity for our growth and, always, for God’s glory to shine. If we don’t lose heart, God will renew us day by day …
2 Corinthians 4:16 “ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”
… and will also reveal to us the wisdom we need to glean for growth from each situation if we but ask Him.
James 1:2-5 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
In the midst of the seasons full of “why me” questions, He longs to show you His kindness and compassion.
Isaiah 30:18 “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you
compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!”
Will you wait for Him? Once your seed germinates, a beautiful garden of fragrant blooms is just on the other side of this period of growth.
Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
He’s waiting for you.
(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)
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