Growth is risky. Like a new flower, there is soil to break through, conditions to endure, and creatures who are actually drawn to EAT the bud they see breaking through the soil! And all of that comes after you have done the work of planning and tilling the soil to make it ready for the new growth and done the work of planting.
Then there is the waiting. You have finally decided you are willing to risk, willing to invest in what CAN be, and you are committed to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to experience freedom and growth.
You have tended the soil of your life, mustered all of your courage and planted the seed deep into the soil of your heart, and now you must wait, water, and weed.
You must wait because growth takes TIME. If we could just pop a pill or something easy like that, there would be no need for counselors, teachers, and coaches. Also, let's be honest, how much would we really appreciate it? There is NO QUICK FIX or easy way. "In all labor there is profit." Proverbs 14:23
You must water because any new work you do in your life will be thirsty. You will have to return regularly to the sources you have discovered that help and support your growth. Who and what encourages you?
You must weed out all of the things that will choke the new growth. Here is the tricky part...weeds can actually look like growth. They can even be pretty. You might be tempted to settle for a little bit of beauty. The thing is, the weeds are not the real deal. Now, this is nothing to stress about, it is just something to be aware of as you are in the waiting. And this waiting is not passive, it is the patient and faithful application of your new tools and insights, the "leaning in" and "showing up". The easy substitutes are not the plant/growth for which you so diligently worked. Don't be tempted to let them take over and rob you of the joy of what is coming. Make no mistake, when you show up and faithfully walk in new ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving, the growth IS happening!
There is a line in Andrew Peterson's song "The Rain Keeps Falling" that says, "I'm dying to live, but I'm learning to wait." -Gets me every time. You may be dying to live, dying to be done with all of the effort, discomfort, even pain. I get it. I have been there. If there is one encouragement I would love to be able to give you face to face it is this; LEAN IN, SHOW UP, and learn to WAIT. The beauty is coming, and it is worth the wait!
Like the frost on a rose Winter comes for us all Oh how nature acquaints us With the nature of patience Like a seed in the snow I've been buried to grow For Your promise is loyal From seed to sequoia I know Though the winter is long even richer The harvest it brings Though my waiting prolongs even greater Your promise for me like a seed I believe that my season will come Lord I think of Your love Like the low winter sun And as I gaze I am blinded In the light of Your brightness And like a fire to the snow I'm renewed in Your warmth Melt the ice of this wild soul Till the barren is beautiful And I know Though the winter is long even richer The harvest it brings Though my waiting prolongs even greater Your promise for me like a seed I believe that my season will come
I can see the promise I can see the future You're the God of seasons And I'm just in the winter If all I know of harvest Is that it's worth my patience Then if You're not done working God I'm not done waiting You can see my promise Even in the winter Cause You're the God of greatness Even in a manger For all I know of seasons Is that You take Your time You could have saved us in a second Instead You sent a child Though the winter is long even richer The harvest it brings Though my waiting prolongs even greater Your promise for me like a seed I believe that my season will come And when I finally see my tree Still I believe there's a season to come Like a seed You were sown For the sake of us all From Bethlehem's soil Grew Calvary's sequoia