The Ultimate Gardener

I hate change. From as early on as I can remember I have hated change, and the last few years have been FULL of it! In the last 3 years I have moved in and out of 2 family homes, 3 college apartments, and moved into my first place with my husband. I graduated high school, went to college, changed my major, and am now preparing for what life might look like after graduation. I lost a lot of friends, made a lot of new ones, and reconnected with old ones. I went from dating through engagement and into marriage with my High School sweet heart. So needless to say, there has been a lot of change, and with that a lot of anxiety.

Because I hate change, I tend to anticipate potential change and try to prepare for it. Often times this leaves me a little disconnected and anxious and unable to really be present in the moment. So this time last year when I was preparing for my upcoming marriage, my last time living with girl roommates, and my last months living in my college town, I convinced myself that I should avoid putting down any and all new roots. I just knew that the fall would be a stagnant season and one only of preparation and anticipation for the season of uprooting ahead. I planned on just floating by in the hopes to ease the struggles of transition that I was already dreading. Thankfully the Lord had other plans.

In August I moved into a cute little house with my roommate since freshman year, Robin, as well as a friend from high school who was transferring schools, Dakota. Within only a few weeks of living together I felt compelled to share with Dakota my concerns with change and how anxious I was about the season of anticipation I was in. I was so afraid that the time would pass by without any real significance while simultaneously being overwhelmed by all the uprooting ahead. Dakota then spoke some of the most meaningful words I had heard in a long time: “Thankfully, God is a really good gardener and He is fully capable of moving us with roots intact”.

This concept seemed so obvious when said out loud, but in that moment I realized the lack of trust I had in the plan and power of the Lord. If He cares to provide for the birds why did I doubt He would provide for me? If He is capable of holding the whole world in His hands why didn’t I trust that He could hold the plans for my future? If He could use all things for good why didn’t I believe that He had purpose for this season?

Over the next months the same idea appeared over and over again in my quiet time, in church sermons, in conversation and devotionals. This idea of the Lord creating greatness in the in between seasons. Moses was called to free the Israelites of their slavery in Egypt while living in Midian after fleeing from his sins in Egypt. Esther was able to prevent the deaths of her people after enduring a beauty competition (not that much unlike The Bachelor) that could have ended with her living as a concubine but instead gave her a position as queen. Ruth was recently widowed and living in a foreign land when she met Boaz and was able to harvest from his land to provide for her mother in law. The Lord had purpose for his people, even in seasons they didn’t understand or expect. I had to trust that He was capable of the same for me.

Over the next months, I experienced more exciting growth than I had ever expected. I was challenged academically in ways that not only left me more knowledgeable in my field, but also left me more understanding of my relationship with failure. I was able to have really important conversations with my now husband about what our goals are and what we want the foundations of our family to be. The Lord consistently showed up for me financially and allowed me to budget and plan easily. Some of the most fruitful and rewarding friendships of my life began and grew into true treasures.

And when it was time for me to move cities and get married, the Lord faithfully picked up the necessary roots and moved them with me. The growth I had experienced was not lost. I arrived in a new season more equipped, more loved, and a better version of myself. The Lord has fully used the season I expected for stagnancy instead as a season of purpose. He had created new beauty. He is a good gardener.

Are you allowing the Lord to cultivate and prune the different areas in your life? Are you trusting him with your roots? Do you believe in his abilities as a gardener?

I am definitely not an expert on gardening and I am still new to trusting the process, but I do know that my God is so good and He loves to see beauty and growth in his children. I know that He uses seasons for growth and that He has a plan. I know that you and I are Purposely Planted.