“Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” Matthew 6:27-30
It was the surprise party that I never saw coming. Winter was long, cold and quiet but something about it caused me to settle in, and submit to the needed and necessary work of the season. Maybe my eye wasn’t on the horizon, or maybe it was just time for a surprise to burst….but burst it did. I hit the trail by my house about a week ago and then, SURPRISE! It was as if nature herself made her extravagant debut. Vibrant green fields set against blue horizons and cotton candy clouds, it was both sweeping and stunning. The show stopper for me, was the wildflowers. I had no idea spring could be so gorgeous. Fiery red and yellow daisies popped against willowy grass shoots, and smatterings of blue, gold and fuchsia exploded across the country side…..all I could do was stop, stare and be wooed by the masterpiece only God could paint. There’s just something about the surprise and the woo that still gets my heart.
Flowers do very little on their own, except yield to the right conditions. They aren’t in charge of the rain, the wind, the sun or the soil….but they respond where they are planted and at the appointed time, they bloom.
I can’t stop thinking of the flowers in relation to above passage from Matthew 6….and I can’t stop thinking how similar they are to us. Jesus tells us not to worry, and he points to the flowers. He tells his people to look at the lilies in the field, and see how beautifully they are adorned and taken care of….and then tells them he will also take care of us. Maybe nature has more lessons in store than just surprises. And maybe, just maybe our focus should be on cultivating faith and trust instead of worry. Oh, how easily we forget!
There’s a lot of surprises, and lessons that God has built into nature. He doesn’t want us to worry, he wants us to remember to have faith.He blesses us when we yield. We aren’t in control (even if we think we are) he is. Our Father alone orchestrates our seasons, choosing the right time for us to be planted, nourished, and to bloom.
If you’re struggling to trust, rest or release control today, can I issue you a challenge? Get alone with God (if you can get out in nature, do it!) and yield your heart. Let go of whatever is burdening you, weighing you down or stressing you out….and surrender in trust. God’s promises are true, and he will take care of you. In his perfect timing, he will cause each and everyone of us to bloom.
Much love,
Joy