I was watering the new grass that I planted recently and was marveling at how hard it seems to keep that young shoot of tender green alive.
On one hand it’s easy, they just need soil, sun and water. But, on the other hand too much or too little of any of those will kill them in short order. For example, I can water it too much and drown them or I can water them too little and they get fried to a crisp.
The right ratio however and they grow strong, lush and beautiful!
We grow as Christians with the same sorts of ratios. God gives us blessing and hardship in just the balance in order to stimulate our growth. We rarely grow without trials but without the occasional blessing we struggle as well.
I find it easy to complain about my trials and get grumpy when things don’t go the way I’ve planned especially when it’s due to a mistake I’ve made. But, God has a master plan to help me grow into a man of character and hope.
…we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. — Romans 5:3-5 (CSB)
When I submit to what God has for me and focus on living with his Spirit to guide me I can be content and even excited about the work that God has for me to do. I can be like a little grass shoot that has the right ratio of soil, sun and water. With God’s divine ratio of trials and blessings my spiritual life will grow strong, lush and beautiful!
Let’s all pray that we would grow through trials and blessings!
-Paul