We often think of the phrase “bloom where you are planted”, which means to live in your present situation in life and blossom there. But sometimes life uproots us and “re-plants” us. When I saw these flowers growing in my yard this Spring, my initial thought when I saw them was how pretty they looked. But then I realized this was not their location last Spring. My husband said he must have moved them while scraping the yard to replant grass this past fall. They sure are lovely and seem to have adapted well as they have bloomed where they were re-planted. Yes, those flowers are not human and, well, they don’t know anything else to do but bloom where they are re-planted.
But it made me think about how in life sometimes we find ourselves in a different place... uprooted and re-planted like these flowers. Sometimes this different place we find ourselves is wonderful and other times not so much. We may not even realize it at first, but sometimes the new place is the best place for us and ends up being a blessing in disguise. Other times, we must learn to adapt and, well, bloom where we are re-planted.
It even looks like the wind caused a stick to fall right in the midst of their beauty, but there they are, still looking beautiful. The flowers did not die because of their relocation and the stick didn’t seem to upset them either. Life has a way of throwing sticks at us sometimes - the things that come at us and have the potential to steal our joy, our peace, our contentment and cause us pain.
Perhaps you have found yourself uprooted and re-planted or have experienced the “sticks of life” coming at you due to sickness, loss of a job or a loved one, etc. Maybe you are in a new location where you are trying to find a new normal in a place you do not want to be. You are trying to blossom and make the most of it, but the struggle of doing that is real. I get it. I have found myself in that place before….. many times.
I realized during this time that I must totally put my trust in the God who created me, loves me, and knows me and trust that He re-planted me right where He needs me to be. I must allow my heart to blossom in the new location and trust and worship Him through whatever circumstance or season of life I find myself. When I do this, then that is where I find true joy, peace and contentment. And knowing no matter what happens, He is faithful and in control and is working out a plan in me as well as for me.
And you know what the best part is? The “re-planted stick throwing seasons” in my life have strengthened my faith in ways that I never could have imagined. I trust you will allow your faith to be strengthened in those seasons as well. We may never know on this side of eternity why we are uprooted and re-planted and for me, I guess that will be okay!
Philippians 4:12-13 (NKJV) I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
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