Out of sight, out of mind.
I've found this idiom is quite often true for me.
Sometimes I wonder if it's true for God too.
Despite being unseasonably cold, the daffodils I had planted along the driveway were once again beginning to make their grand entrance. A few weeks ago as I was walking down to my mailbox it occurred to me that many of the plants seemed to be missing. I was sure there should be more...
I've found this idiom is quite often true for me.
Sometimes I wonder if it's true for God too.
Despite being unseasonably cold, the daffodils I had planted along the driveway were once again beginning to make their grand entrance. A few weeks ago as I was walking down to my mailbox it occurred to me that many of the plants seemed to be missing. I was sure there should be more...
Because I (and some grumbling children, if memory serves me correctly) was the one to plant the bulbs, I had a good idea of where the plants should appear.
Sort of.
Sure enough, upon closer inspection, I saw just a few tips of the green sprigs that managed to fight their way through an over abundance of dead leaves.
Sort of.
Sure enough, upon closer inspection, I saw just a few tips of the green sprigs that managed to fight their way through an over abundance of dead leaves.
.
Since these plants needed sunlight if they were to mature, I gently began removing layer after layer of obstructions. While the leaves were originally a great help to the plants, protecting them from the harsh elements of winter, that season had now passed and what had once been a help had now become a hindrance.
The more layers of dead leaves I removed, the more small sickly sprigs I saw.
While the plants on the other side of the driveway were a healthy green, these that had been fighting for sunlight were a lackluster yellow.
Can you relate to these plants? Have you ever felt like you were buried by life's circumstances; crushed under an immoveable weight? Does what was once a security blanket now feel like its smothering you? I've been there, both in the past and the present.
I know at times like this I should look to God and ask Him to give me feet to walk the path I'm on, but when I'm in the thick of struggle generally what comes out of my mouth is more along the lines of, "Please, make it stop! Get me out of here!"
Sometimes I wonder where God is; has He forgotten about me? I question why He hasn't come to my rescue already. I wonder what it is He wants me to learn now. Maybe you've wondered the same things.
Thankfully, God keeps much better track of us than I do my daffodils. He never forgets where we are. David reminds of us this truth in Psalm 145:18 when he said, "The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth."
In my experience, every struggle I've had has ultimately served to draw me closer to God and taught me to rely more heavily upon Him. Though it might not be what you want to hear in the midst of your situation, it's true that God can bring good out of even the worst of circumstances. Just as in nature, after every winter there comes a spring.
When we're feeling overwhelmed by life's circumstances, it's imperative that we fill our mind with the truth of God's Word, for He has said,
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name;
you are mine.
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.
For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;"
~ Isaiah 43:1b-3a
The truth is that with God you are never out of sight, or out of mind!
Lisa
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Lisa, This is a wonderful post that brought me to tears! I LOVED the thought about something that used to be a security blanket now feeling like it is smothering. Such profound wisdom here. I needed this today and am so happy I stopped by. Thank you for your obedience to God in sharing.
Dear Lisa, This is so beautiful! Yesterday I spent what felt like an awful long time weeding. In truth it was about an hour. When I stopped, I was sweaty, dirty, tired and felt like I had hardly accomplished anything (such was the sorry state of my flower beds!). I quickly showered and then went to get my kids from school. As we pulled into the driveway, they said "Wow Mama - look at that spot where that bush looks so pretty!" See, I had thought I had hardly accomplished anything -but the truth is, just like when you clean the junk out from around the flowers, their beauty gets to shine; I think that when I clean the junk out of my own spirit, I get to shine Jesus' light all the more. Thanks for this lovely post!
Very well said! Hopping here from Friendship Friday and following on Networked Blogs. Blessings to you and yours!
Marie @ http://asatisfiedspirit.com
All that protection kept them safe and your helpfulness provided release when the protection was no longer needed. Good job that! :)
Lisa,
This is a very inspirational post and I love your analogies with the plants in the spring. Verses can be very so comforting when we are feeling down. Thank you.. I'm visiting you back from Gluten Free A-Z Blog and am now following you on Twitter and Google Followers connect.I don't use my personal fb and my blog fb account doesn't let me follow
I'll be looking for your posts on twitter which I check a f
We do need the son/sun light and to be smothered is not so good. Thank you for sharing your wonderful post with us here at “Tell Me a Story.” http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/
YEP, He's the one we can count on when we feel buried under piles of stuff and worthless, useless. He pulls us forward, He heals, He uses us exactly how He desires to. All we can rely upon. Good way to share re: the flowers. Reality is big time with them, especially after the icy and windy and overwhelming wintery time. But, even for them He will draw them out, show us how to do it. Counting on Him for them, and for US!! Good sharing...