He“My God Is my rock, in whom I take refuge…” Psalm 18:2
We did a pretty big gardening project at my house this summer. Our goal was to clear out our front lawn and add some color. What stood in our way were six very large yewel bushes that ran across the front of our house and porch. They’d been there for at least 2 decades, firmly rooted and in no hurry to leave.
My husband consulted YouTube for a how-to video, then he and my daughter set to work. They clipped and sawed and shovelled and yanked, and within about a week the six ‘Goliaths’ were cut down. Now, you won’t be surprised to hear that I barely touched dirt during this phase. But I was an impressive supervisor!
Next, we planted new and “used” things we already had in the beds, including three holly bushes from our shady backyard. Two of the bushes transferred pretty well. But one of them wilted pretty quickly. It’s leaves started turning brown, and frankly it looked unhappy, if that’s possible for plants.
While we were at a local nursery eying hydrangeas, we asked about the holly bush. Their advice was to feed it some special food and give it some extra shade. “It might just be a little overwhelmed by the change,” one of the pros said.
Overwhelmed by the change. Boy, that phrase resonated with me. Many times I’ve reacted to changes like that holly bush did – getting wilted and unhappy. And I’m not just talking about the big life-altering kind of change, either.
Well, I’ve discovered over the years that life is full of unexpected changes! And I finally realized that life would be a lot easier to navigate and a lot more enjoyable if I were to learn how to handle them better when they come. I can at least say I’m better than I used to be. But any improvement is God’s doing, not my own. He’s used His Word as well as His Spirit to teach me some important truths along the way:
God doesn’t change.
Nature reflects this. As a day goes by, the sun shifts, and the light changes. But God’s light stays on all the time! I need to look to Him to see where I’m going.
God knows everything about my life.
Nothing about me or my world surprises God – that’s a comforting thought. And turning to Him gives me strong support to face whatever’s coming next.
God is always up to something good.
He’s active all the time on our behalf. Deciding to trust Him leads me to calm down and have a more positive,” attitude.
When I keep these mind, I end up less like that poor holly bush when changes come. And I end up growing closer to the One who helps me navigate through them.
For more devotionals, check out my book, “Bow Down: The Heart of a True Worshipper,” and my ebook, “Worshipping Like David,” available now on Amazon.com!
My book, “Bow Down: The Heart of a True Worshipper, A 30-Day Devotional” and ebook, “Worshipping Like David” offer practical teaching and activities to help you grow in this area!
