Learning to be Fruitful Where We Are

Spring and summer tend to be the seasons of nature where fruit is most evident. I see it in my garden in the way that my jalapenos and peppers are bearing fruit and in the way that my eggplant, tomatoes, catnip, impatiens, and begonias are growing taller each day. Fruitfulness describes my garden and the fields where the Texas wildflowers grow. But what does fruitfulness look like for us in our faith journey, especially in seasons where we aren’t seeing the fruit of our labor?

Some of us may think that we have to do big works for the Lord to be fruitful. We also may think that if we aren’t seeing fruit that we aren’t doing enough. I don’t think that either of those things are true. God is simply calling us to be fruitful with what we have right where we are. Even if we don’t yet see the fruit, He still longs for us to complete the purpose that he gave us:

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

-Isaiah 55:10-11

Our Call to be Fruitful

Just as the rain and snow complete their purpose before returning to the heavens, God intends for us to complete the purpose he has given us before we return to him. This purpose is to glorify God, further the Kingdom here on earth, and grow in Christlikeness. He is calling us to fulfill our purpose and be fruitful exactly where we are today within our specific set of circumstances. 

When we wish away where we are, dread our day-to-day life, or remain stagnant amongst challenges or monotony, we are risking returning to God empty, just as the rain would be if it returned to heaven without first accomplishing its purpose on earth. We have to embrace exactly where we are and remember that God is calling us toward stewardship and fruitfulness right where we are. He has equipped us, prepared the way, and has given us what we need to be fruitful.

Just as the water brings forth fruitfulness, bringing seed to the sower and bread to the eater, God is also calling us to be fruitful in various capacities. We can be fruitful and fulfill our purpose in our career, our friendships and relationships, our families, and in motherhood or fatherhood. Our fruitfulness touches every sphere of our life, just as the water touches all parts of the earth and brings forth life. Even if we can’t yet see the fruit, we must remain diligent in accomplishing what God planned for us. He will be faithful as we seek to be fruitful.

How to Be Fruitful Right Where We Are

I want to be fruitful in the season of life that I am in and in the places and circumstances where God has placed me. And even more so, God has called us to be fruitful within those places. God has us where we are for a purpose, and we need to be fruitful and make the most of what we’ve been given. By being fruitful, we’re being faithful stewards of the things in which God has called us to do.

We can’t be fruitful when we’re holding tightly to our own expectations or agendas. We also can’t be fruitful by wishing away our circumstances or failing to see the potential in a slow-moving season. If we reap what we sow, wouldn’t we rather be sowing seeds of encouragement, faith, and openhandedness towards God’s will rather than holding tightly to our own ideas of how our life should look?

So, how can we be fruitful in this season of life, right where we’re planted? How can we dig our roots deep into the purpose that God has for us right now? 

We Can:

Broaden Our Perspective

I love that the Scripture that directly precedes Isaiah 55:10-11 are verses declaring that God’s ways and thoughts are so much higher than ours. It puts all things in perspective to remember that while I can have similar thoughts to God since I’m created in his image, I cannot even scratch the surface of the thoughts that God has. His ways are so much higher than ours, which encourages me to pursue fruitfulness even in difficult circumstances. 

It also puts into perspective the need for us to be fruitful: God has placed us where we are using his thoughts and ways that are higher than ours and has given us a purpose. He desires for us to accomplish what He’s purposed and will bless us abundantly in the thing He sent us to do. All of this is with His higher perspective that is writing the whole story! We can be fruitful when we shift our perspective toward open-handedness because we know that God’s plan is better.

View Challenges as Opportunities

One perspective shift that I’ve made in my life is to view my challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles. When we come across a trial, it can quickly derail our efforts to be fruitful. But when we view our challenges as opportunities to pivot or try something new, they become less daunting and less of a roadblock.

Accept the Circumstances We’ve Been Given

One of the most difficult things to do is to accept where we are even if it isn’t what we wanted. I’ve faced too many circumstances that were not what I had in mind. Even now, most of my life is not what I pictured. The only way that I’m finding contentment where I’m at and am able to be fruitful is because I’ve accepted that if this where God has me then it must be for a purpose. I’m laying down my expectations and agenda and trading them in for humility and surrender for the ways of God. I’m choosing to accept the set of circumstances that God has given me, and I’m trusting that He will be faithful to provide.

Continue to Plant Seeds Even if We Don’t See Fruit Yet

It can be so difficult to continue to plant seeds, especially when the fruit is not evident. I often feel this way while mothering a toddler. The seeds are being sown daily, but I likely will not reap a harvest until much later in the future. I’m blessed to see some small seedlings as Wesley surprises me by remembering what I’ve taught him, but I know that my work is hardly done. If we want to be fruitful where we are, we have to remain faithful in the planting process.

Remember Our Assignment for This Season (or Discern What it is if We Aren’t Sure)

It’s easy to be fruitful when we know what we’ve been called to do and what our assignment from God is. But we have to be discerning to know when it’s from God or if it’s the product of our own dreams and desires. It will be evident that it’s from God when it’s in line with God’s word and promises, you feel a sense of contentment around it, or you feel the Spirit clearly prompting you toward it. Our assignment also is something that will help us to live out our ultimate purpose of glorifying God, furthering the Kingdom, and growing in Christlikeness with our lives.

Once we know our assignment, we must remain faithful to accomplish it. We are fruitful when we live out a God-given assignment, and we also get to witness firsthand the goodness and faithfulness of God. 

In this season, this looks like being fully present when I’m around Wesley, teaching him right from wrong, and helping him to understand his emotions. It also looks like being a faithful steward and hostess of my new home. It also is using my skill set to glorify God and bless others through my job and my writing. But it also includes some mundane tasks like feeding my family every night and cleaning the litter box. By remaining faithful to my assignment, I know that I will be reaping a good harvest because my seeds are being sown in the things that God has called me to do today.

Live with a Goal of God’s Glory Being Known and His Kingdom Being Furthered On This Earth

As much as I have personal goals for my life, I have to hold them in contrast with God’s goals. He longs for us to grow in relationship with Him, make His name known, and glorify Him with our words and actions. I want to be fruitful in the things that make God’s name known and encourage others in their relationship with him. By being fruitful in those things, I know that God will bless me abundantly as I pursue the things of his will. It’s a constant, daily reminder that God’s goals need to be my goals too. His will needs to also be my will. I’m fruitful in what God has called me to do when I live with his ultimate goals in mind.

Finding Goodness Within the Hardships of Life

I used to run wild within my life. When life felt too hard I either retreated inward, was filled with nostalgia for the past, or I longed for the future. I avoided challenges by running. I thought that by wishing away where I was and finding anything in this world to fulfill me that I would come out on the other side unscathed. But all I found was that I was empty inside. My tendency to both sail and avoid hardship only hurt me in the long run, and I dragged other people down with me. 

The song This Will End by The Oh Hellos says it well: 

“No, I am not afraid to die. It’s every breath that comes before. Heartache, I’ve heard, is part of life, and I have broken more and more.”

It wasn’t until well into my adult life that I realized that my lifestyle was only causing pain for myself and others. I was caught in a vicious cycle of wishing away my life for something better. But running wild never seemed to fix my longing for more; it only left me even more broken and wanting. I had learned the hard way that my challenges were meant to be lived. They were not something to escape from—they were opportunities to experience God more and to grow as a person. I found that there was purpose in my challenging circumstances, and I discovered a new longing: to find the goodness and purpose within the hardships of life.

Purpose In Hardship

We all will come across challenges in life; it’s simply part of the human experience. We will face hardships, obstacles, and heartaches. Our hearts will break time and time again, and sometimes, we’ll be the ones doing the breaking. We are not immune from hardship. But it’s how we handle the challenges of life that show our character and our depth of faith. 

It may not feel like it, but I believe that there is purpose in every hardship that we will encounter on our faith journey. Scripture points toward a God who keeps his promises, is above all things, and allows suffering if it brings him glory and shapes us into christlikeness. We see divine hope in words of Scripture teaching us that God has a plan for all things. He is intentional in His very trinitarian nature, His creation of us, and the story for all of humanity. 

Over thousands of years God kept his people Israel in mind. He allowed them to walk in wilderness, live in captivity, and wait for hundreds of years for their savior to arrive. Many of their struggles were due to their own disobedience and hunger for other gods, but God would not have allowed it if he did not think it would draw them closer to him and closer to glory. 

If God was intentional in these ways toward Israel, why don’t we believe that he is intentional in this way toward us? His goodness shines through His intention and love toward us. We may never see the reasons for hardship on this side of eternity, but we must hold onto hope that there is a purpose in our suffering. If there is no other reason I can see, I believe that it must be for my good and for God’s glory in some way, shape, or form. God can use anything for good.

Finding Goodness Within Hardship

So the question remains: How do we find goodness within hardship? And how do we embrace the trials in our lives so we can learn the lessons God is intending for us?

First, we hold onto hope that God works out of good intentions.

In God’s very character he is good, loving, and just. He is gracious toward us and is quick to forgive. While parts of Scripture portray God as angry or punishing, we have to remember that the things that anger him must anger us as well. God’s anger is justified. Of course God would be angry over the things that draw us away from him. He holds righteous anger over the evil forces in this world because they do not tell the truth about Him, His word, or about His people. 

From the beginning of time, God’s intentions toward humanity have always been good. But we have to remember as well that good does not mean a life without pain. Because there is sin in this world, there will be troubles. The enemy is actively trying to destroy what God has created and deemed beautiful. However, God being sovereign and powerful, our troubles can be used for goodness and beauty. We can still have a good life and one that is painful at times. It is not either, or. It’s both, and. Besides, how would we know true joy if we did not also know heartbreak?

Next, we remember the promises of Scripture.

Scripture points toward a God who keeps his promises. From Abraham, to Joseph, to Israel as a nation, God did what he said he would do. But when we look at these examples, we can see that each of them came with their own struggles and hardships.

Abraham had to wait many years before he had a child with his beloved wife. 

Joseph had to endure years of slavery and imprisonment before he saw the fruit of his difficult situation.

Israel walked in wilderness, lived in captivity, and waited years for the Messiah.

But God.

He always came through in the end, didn’t He? Then how true is it that He will come through for us today? It may not look like our timeline or by our agenda or by our idea of how things will go. But God will always keep his promise to us: He has the final say. The victory is already won.

Lastly, we trust God in our hardship.

I ultimately think that how we live out hardship is dependent not necessarily on our endurance or our faith, but on what we believe about God. Do we believe that God is good? Do we believe that He allows us to suffer for his glory? Or do we believe that God is not always good and he causes our suffering? Do we believe that everything happens for a reason even if we will never know the reason? Or do we think that everything in this life—including our struggles—serve no purpose and just happen by coincidence?

It’s easy for me to trust God in the midst of hardship because I believe that he allows me to suffer because he has a greater plan in mind. I believe that everything happens for a reason. Regardless of if that means I am naive or not, it gives me tremendous hope to live out my faith journey. Perhaps my naivety gives me this hope, but it is a strong hope in the goodness of life at that. We have to trust that a good God is at the center of all things if we want to live this life fully.

The Detours of Life: Embracing God’s Redirection

As Wesley and I roamed the grounds of our apartment complex, he spotted an area toward the back fence lined with rocks. He pointed excitedly, exclaiming “rock” or in his words, “wock.” He started walking with one goal in mind: reaching the rock garden. But right in front of it lay an obstacle that his little eyes didn’t see. Mud filled the expanse between us and the rocks. 

I attempted to lead Wesley around the mud, but he fought me, assuming that I was stopping him from getting to where his heart was set upon. Scooping him up into my arms, I carried him around the mess. Once I placed him back down right next to the rock path, he realized that I was only trying to help him. I was redirecting him so he could avoid a mess and reach his destination unscathed.

God often works this way in our faith journey. He redirects out of love and care for us. But we are so much like Wesley in this situation, aren’t we? When God is leading us a different way than we want or expect, we fight against him. We often have our eyes set on a goal or a desire, and when we feel like God is taking us the long way around or leading us somewhere else completely, we grumble or lose hope. But we have to remember the big picture:

God is redirecting us because he can see all the things we can’t.

God knows our hearts and sees the temptations that we easily fall into. He sees the things that will hurt us if He doesn’t intervene. What often seems like a dead end or a long way round is simply a divine detour leading us toward a greater destination in a more fulfilling way.

God’s Redirection

Sometimes I like to think about what life would be like if I was in charge. If I had all the things I wanted throughout my life, would I truly be happy? Would my life be fulfilling or still be glorifying God? But when I remember all the things that God has removed from my life and replaced with something better, I’m so thankful that I’m not in charge. If I had all of those things I pined for years ago, I would not be the person I am today. I would not be living a life of godliness, nor would I be anywhere near the person I want to be.

Remembering all the ways that God has redirected me gives me hope when I’m in places of uncertainty or longing. It gives me a sense of gratitude that God knows what is best for us.

God redirects us so that we don’t fall into sin and aren’t easily tempted.

He takes away those temptations by completely removing whatever it is that is tempting us from our lives.

God redirects us so that we can experience something better than what we imagined.

Our human minds can only see and imagine so much. What we see as what we need or envision for our lives is so finite and small to what God sees. His redirection brings us to places we never even imagined for ourselves, and those places are so sweet.

God redirects us because we still have something to learn and experience within the detour.

Sometimes God makes us take the long way around because he has more to show us.

God redirects by taking things away so that we can live lives that are more glorifying to him and so he can bless us beyond measure.

God takes away jobs, relationships, people, opportunities, etc. so that he can provide something even better. He does not take away to be cruel or hardhearted. Rather, He takes away because He always has something better in mind.

And sometimes God redirects us by allowing us to face hardship because He knows that it will only grow us in the long run.

Sometimes God lets us step in the mud because there is a lesson to be learned there. He allows us the fleshly desires of our hearts at times because it will turn us toward Him. And He allows trials and challenges if He is certain that there is growth that will happen within it.

Embracing the Redirection

Learning to embrace times of redirection is certainly easier said than done. It’s easy enough for me to say that God’s redirection has blessed my life, but it didn’t feel that way while I was in the middle of it. I fought God hard. I wandered throughout my life as a stranger, always wishing away my circumstances for something better. The detour felt like a curse, not a blessing. 

But when we remember that God’s redirection is for our good, we can embrace our redirection and live wholly within it. We can embrace the redirections in life by:

Trusting that God’s plan is better than ours

It’s so comforting to believe that God knows a better way. He is guiding us with a gentle hand toward blessings and grace. His redirection is proof that He knows better. Let’s trust that His plan will always be greater than ours. 

Allowing His redirection instead of fighting it

I’ve spent so much of my life fighting with God, as if my wrestling and bargaining would ever change his mind. It was only when I allowed His plan to be the plan instead of fighting Him that I found beauty in the detours of life. It was at that point that I could start working with Him instead of against Him. There has been so much fruit in that work.

Accepting all that the detour has to offer

The redirections in life often teach us greater lessons that we would have learned otherwise. They also provide beauty and goodness that we wouldn’t have seen. There is so much that the detour has to offer. Keep your eyes open and embrace all that it entails.

Purpose in the Detour

After Wesley finished playing with the rocks, he went over to a hill covered in fallen leaves. As he threw them in the air and ran up and down the hill, his laughter overtook him. He sat in the fallen leaves entirely enamored with the scene and situation. He continued to laugh, joy filling his face. 

I’ve decided that I never want to forget all of life’s detours that led me to this moment. God’s divine redirection has led me to this moment, this season, this time in my life. I thank God that he didn’t give me what I thought I wanted years ago because I wouldn’t have all of this. God is so good and kind to us in his leading and provision.

If you find yourself in a place of redirection, remember that while it may feel like the long way around, there is purpose in the detour. God’s guidance is filled with goodness and gentle shepherding. He is leading you toward something greater than you could ever dream on your own. Embrace it all wholeheartedly.

Walking Confidently into the Classrooms of Life

My son Wesley absolutely loves preschool. His teacher sends me pictures of him all day—photos of him painting, playing with his friends, learning musical instruments, exploring the playground, and taking a much-needed nap. Preschool has been one of the best decisions we’ve made for him. He knows that he loves it, yet drop off is always tough.

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, he is eager to get to the school. He can tell when I’m filling his backpack with diapers and readying his lunch box. He even brings me his socks and shoes, ready to face the day. When we arrive at the school, he walks in all by himself, happily wearing his backpack. But once we get to his classroom, that’s another story. 

It always starts with him being excited to see his teacher and his friends, but then he remembers that another person he loves brought him here and will be leaving. Then the waterworks start, and he runs back to me for a huge hug. 

Last week was especially hard on him, and he wanted longer, tighter hugs. And as I hugged him, he tried to crawl up me so I would have to pick him up and take him home with me. Even though I did feel bad for him (it’s hard to see your kid cry), I handed him off to his teacher. I reassured him that he would have fun and I would be back later and then I headed home. Minutes later, he would be playing as if the emotional goodbye never even happened.

Forgetting That There Is More

Sometimes I find that I’m exactly this way with my faith journey and relationship with God. I know that spending time with Him will be restorative, yet I cling onto things of this world to bring me entertainment and validation. Instead of walking into the classroom God is beckoning me towards, I stay in the hallway, stubborn and immovable. When I sense that God is calling me into something new, I get scared to step out of my comfort zone and take the next step in faith. And even when I know something is good for my faith and I sense God in it, I allow complacency to seep into my life. 

My own stubbornness surprises me sometimes. I’m always at peace, feeling accomplished, and fully restored when I engage in the things I know bring me closer to God. It’s similar to that feeling you get after you finish reading a book, complete a running goal, or achieve something really important to you. It’s as if I can sense Him in a deeper way, the connection unparalleled to anything else. 

But I can truly be so forgetful, just as Wesley is when he arrives at school each day. He forgets just how much fun he has in that place and the relationships he’s building. Similarly, I forget the goodness and peace that comes from truly connecting with God and trusting him with my future. I run away from the hard things, and I lack discipline at times. I’m often just like my son, stubbornly grasping for whatever I think will save me, forgetting that there is so much more life to live if I would step forward into the next classroom of life.

Into the Classroom

I don’t want to be someone who is desperately clinging to the past and my worldly comforts. I want to find peace and contentment in the things of God, boldly stepping out of my comfort zone daily. The woman I long to be is living in the present moment, connecting with the Lord every chance she gets, and has a deep, intimate relationship with God and senses the Spirit in all things.

How can we be the kind of people who step out of their comfort zones in faith, unafraid (or with a healthy fear) of what comes next? How can we walk confidently in the present moment, connecting with God every chance we get? And how can we cling to the things that restore us and build us up in the things of God instead of the things of this world?

We identify the habits we have that are drawing us away from God.

What habits do you have that are pulling you away from God? It can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint these habits, as they are so ingrained in our way of living. But we have to be aware of where we are falling short. Our habits make us who we are and show what we love. We have to find where we can build new habits that draw us nearer to God and better show our love for him.

We identify the places we look to for comfort outside of God.

Where are you looking for comfort, validation, and acceptance in this world? What are you clinging onto that is only a false sense of comfort? We have to remember that worldly comforts may bring satisfaction, but it’s always only temporary. The world cannot give us comfort in the way that God does. Look to Him instead!

We remember that life begins outside of our comfort zone.

I was a kid when I first heard the quote “life begins outside of your comfort zone,” but it wasn’t something I really believed in until I was much older. Sometimes it feels good to stay inside our little circle, but it gets really boring always playing it safe. We have to do the things that we know will help us grow even if it’s hard. Just like Wesley has to make the choice to go into his classroom every day, we have to make the choice to step out of our comfort zone in faith too.

We remember that God meets us where we are.

God will never lead us somewhere that he’s never been. He won’t take us on an adventure that He isn’t willing to walk alongside us. God meets us exactly where we are in any season and in any condition. We have to remember that even when we aren’t sure where God is leading us or we are afraid of what comes next. God is with us, every step of the way—without judgment and with unwavering compassion.

At the End of the Day

When I pick up Wesley from school, he always runs to the door to greet me. His teacher and the administrators always tell me how sweet he is. His teacher hands me his backpack, lunchbox, and artwork, and I take him up in my arms. As we walk to the car, he tucks his head into my shoulder, happy to be reunited with his mom. In that moment, I know that it’s worth it. The tears at drop off are unmatched to the skills he’s learning and the reunion at the end of the day. 

Stepping into the classroom is a choice we must make in faith, whether that is a new season, a fresh opportunity, or the opportunities we have every single day to connect with God. As we step into the various classrooms of life, we have to let go of the things that hold us back: our idea of how we thought it would go, our fear of what comes next, our worldly comforts, and our habits that no longer serve us well. And I promise, what we leave behind is never as good as what’s coming.

Practicing Gratitude in the Midst of Uncertainty

For over a year, Wesley and I have taken almost daily walks by the river. Being next to the trails is one of the many blessings of where we live. The simple beauty of the grasslands and wildflowers that grow on the riverbank reminds me that we don’t have to be showy to be admired. 

But these days, the grass is withering away with the scorching summer heat. Its green color has turned to pale yellows and browns. We’ve started walking earlier in the morning to avoid the hot sun, but we still end up warm and sweaty when we get home.

Today, Wesley and I stopped at a much-loved bench that we’ve been skipping over because it lacks shade. But with the clouds overhead today, this bench welcomed us back. I unstrapped Wesley from the stroller and held his hand as he discovered sticks and small branches amongst the grass. 

In our exploration of the land, we found a shell with hand-drawn flowers and the word “grateful” on it. It isn’t clear how the shell got here—perhaps it was lost, left behind, or intentionally left to the land—but finding it was almost spiritual for me. It felt like it was left for me to find.

Goodness Right Here

I’ve been asking God for clarity and direction in my job search. In my searching, I’ve wondered what’s next for me and what I’m meant to do. It’s taken a toll on my writing, as I’m feeling myself being pulled into a new season that I don’t quite have words for yet besides uncertainty.

But finding that shell with the word and flowers and the moss-colored outer shell was a clear reminder that there is still goodness right here. I can be grateful even when I’m in a place of uncertainty, transition, or doubt because I know that there are still blessings in my struggle. In my waiting and wondering, God deserves my gratitude. 

Instead of focusing on what God is calling me into next, perhaps I should instead be giving him praise for what he’s already doing right here and now. Even in this place of uncertainty, I can see that God is still working. There are still reasons to be grateful, even when my heart feels anxious and unsteady.

Practicing Gratitude Amidst Uncertainty

I want to be better at practicing gratitude even when I’m in over my head. In those places of struggle, heartache, and uncertainty, I want to be someone who can still say that God is good. I want to worship and praise God for the good things he gives us, even if we don’t see the goodness in them right away.

But how can we truly practice gratitude amidst our uncertainty?

We can make a list of what we are grateful for. 

Ever since I read Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts, I’ve considered making a list of gifts to show gratitude. Right now, I’m doing this by writing daily gratitudes in my prayer journal. Today’s list looks like:

• Storytime at the library

• Library cards

• A really good smoothie

• Rain incoming

• The sweetest little boy

I know this list may seem silly, but it’s in those small things that we can see God moving. In the storytime at the library, I’m reminded of the blessing of community and the joy of small children. In my really good smoothie, I’m reminded of the fruits that God created and the perfect conditions in which he allowed them to grow so they could be blended into my delicious smoothie. And in the rain incoming, I’m reminded that God created and controls the weather—even the storms in my own life. 

Another way to practice gratitude is to steward well what God has given us.

This looks like using our God-given gifts and talents for God’s glory. It’s living more in the present moment and current season that God has given, stewarding our material possessions well. This means we have to stop wishing away our difficult circumstances and going through the motions.

I’ll be honest, I’m so guilty of wishing away tough times. It’s not even just challenges but also times where I feel uncertain or I’m waiting for something. I just want to skip to the good part. But in my wishing away where I’m at, all I’m doing is avoiding the lessons God wants to teach me in the struggle and in the waiting. I’m also failing to steward what God has given. 

We practice gratitude when we are living in the present moment, grateful that this is the moment that God has given. This doesn’t mean that our circumstances are perfect. It means that we trust God enough that he will do something amazing and full of blessings in our rough patches.

A Little Less Uncertain

After admiring the “gratitude” shell for a while, I gently set it back down in the grass. I buckled Wesley back into his stroller, telling him that we’ll play here again soon. As I walked away from the shell and the bench, I prayed that the shell would bless the next person who picked it up in the way that it had blessed me. But most of all, I thanked God for his simple, yet profound word to me. 

Even in the uncertainty, I can be grateful for what God is doing and what he will do. I can be grateful that God speaks in the simplest and most ordinary of places. And practicing gratitude is what makes uncertainty feel a little less uncertain.

Choosing to Live in the Present Moment (Stewarding Your Season #4)

Before having Wesley and even in the early days of motherhood, I wandered aimlessly through life. I had goals and aspirations, but life was always about getting somewhere instead of living in the right now. Part of me always wondered if there was something better out there. 

But it’s been within this season with my little boy that I’ve discovered that the present moment is all we have. I’ve finally understood the passing of precious time, as he changes so quickly before my eyes. I don’t want to miss it.

When I see his unfiltered joy, I want to capture it, and I want to feel it too. What brings me the most joy in life these days is living my days slowly, choosing to embrace all that they entail. From planting seeds to tilling soil, existing in the ordinary, this is my mindset and choice: The present moment deserves to be lived fully. I will steward it well.

Choosing to Live in the Present Moment

There is a natural progression from understanding where you are, accepting it, and changing your perspective, and then choosing to live more presently. We can do the first three well and live a fuller life, but if we don’t make the intentional choice to live in the present moment we are unable to steward our current season as well as we could.

These days, while I’m aware of the tension that exists within my heart, I’m choosing to live more presently. If I don’t make this active choice every single day, I know that I’m prone to wander, to worry, and to spiral. I have to make a choice to turn my heart toward the things of this moment rather than the regrets of the past or the concerns of tomorrow.

The here and now is all we really have. We can remember the past and prepare and hope for the future, but even those actions take place in the present moment. We have to steward these moments given to us well, and the last step in doing so is choosing to live more presently.

Here are some ways to help you as you choose to live more presently:

Find routines that work for this season.

I fully believe that the habits and routines that we engage in shape how we interact with the present moment. We have to find routines that work for us in this season instead of holding onto old ones. 

For example, in this season I’m finding myself doing my Bible study and writing during Wesley’s naptime in the afternoon rather than in the mornings like I used to. I’m practicing different spiritual disciplines in this season based on what I’m sensing I need to grow in the most. I’m also drinking a lot more coffee! Find what routines work best for you in this season and make those a part of your everyday life.

Thank God for what you have right now.

I know I suggested this as a way to help you accept where you are when it isn’t what you want, but I think it can be helpful as we choose to live presently as well. When we show gratitude to God for what we have, it ignites a spark in us. It helps us to engage these days more fully because we are appreciative of what we already have. So what are those things in your life, big or small, that you are thankful for?

Plan only for this season.

When we find ourselves planning for the fall or next spring, we lose ourselves in the future. In order to live more presently, we must only make plans for this season. I do this by taking things one week at a time. If I know I have something important coming up, I remember it, but I don’t plan for it until it’s almost here. This practice has helped me to stay present and make the most of today instead of always looking forward to the next big thing.

Continually choose to live in this moment, even when it’s painful and hard.

I know how hard living in the present moment can be. Sometimes it feels heavy with grief or tension. But even our deepest pain demands to be felt and processed. We have to wake up each morning and make the intentional choice to live more presently. It has to be a continuous practice we engage in, even when it’s really hard. But faith takes endurance and perseverance. We can only grow when we allow ourselves to face hard things.

Steward It Well

Learning to steward your season well is a practice that we must all learn so we can live more fully. By understanding where we are, accepting it, changing our perspective, and choosing to live in the present moment, we can live fully within this season given to us.

My intention with this series was to better equip you to live a life that is aware of God’s presence in the here and now, doing good with the perfect gifts he’s given. I hope that it has helped you as you desire to grow.

Remember: this moment is all we have. Now go, and live it well.

Viewing Life as a Privilege (Stewarding Your Season #3)

A lot of people don’t know that I absolutely love Marvel movies. The special effects, the storylines, and the character development are all reasons why these movies are special to me. My comfort movies are Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Age of Ultron.

One of my favorite lines in Age of Ultron comes at the end when the Vision is conversing with the last Ultron. While Ultron does not understand the Vision’s fascination and care for the human race, the Vision says that “it is a privilege to be among them”. I come back to that line often.

It truly is a privilege to be among others and live this life that I do.

Life is a Privilege

One day last fall, Wesley and I were taking our normal walk by the river. On that particular day I was struggling with the tension between the demands of motherhood and my dreams of writing. I wondered when the days would come where I could write uninterrupted, days where my words would flow more easily onto the page. As I pushed the stroller, the fall breeze blew, and I remembered that line: It is a privilege to be among them.

It is a privilege to live these days.

It is a privilege to be able to stay home with my baby boy.

It is a privilege to have the freedom to pursue my dreams, even within limited time.

It is a privilege to be a mother.

It is a privilege to exist within the ordinary.

And the list goes on and on.

This perspective shift was what caused me to begin to write more on present moment living. It gave me a new lens with which to view the world. When I began looking at life as a privilege rather than a challenge or an interruption, life began to feel full of opportunity. I felt more excited about my life, eager to find God in the ordinary. And I want to help you do the same so you can live a fuller life.

A Work In Progress

This perspective shift of mine didn’t happen overnight. I still have days where I feel utterly defeated and envious of others who are walking seasons I wish I was in. It’s been consistent practice and gratitude that have helped me in realizing what a privilege it is that I have the life that I do. And practice is not a process that we can rush.

I often say that I’m a work in progress. Aren’t we all? We’re all finite human beings, learning how to be better and live more fully. We make mistakes and have regrets. Oftentimes, we can be irritable, frustrated, and downright rude. I’ve found that a lot of these negative emotions and behaviors come from a limited perspective. We think things should be how we want them to be or as we always thought they were, even in our season of life or current circumstances.

But what if we broaden our perspective and allow other ideas to challenge us? What would happen if we began to live life with more of an open-mind? And what if we opened our hearts enough to notice that God’s perspective is so much bigger than ours?

In addition to realizing that life is a privilege, we also have to be willing to broaden our mindset. Changing our perspective on life to be one that is wider is a conscious choice that we must make. We have to choose to see life differently. It is an active mindset shift that happens within us.

Our life becomes more fulfilling when we allow ourselves to see with a wider lens. And we can better steward our current season when we can view it through that lens.

Here are three ways to begin changing your perspective about your current season:

Begin identifying the privileges that you have right now.

We all have things in our life that we can show gratitude for. We also have privileges afforded to us that many others do not. What are those privileges for you? When we are aware of the privileges we have, it helps to change our perspective on life.

Look at your challenges as opportunities and your frustrations as privileges.

I used to be someone who ran away from trials. Struggles were to be avoided at all cost. But once I started realizing the lessons I was learning through my struggles, I started to embrace the challenges that came my way. 

When we start viewing our challenges or problems as opportunities, we open ourselves up to a whole new way of thinking about life. Same with the frustrations and annoyances of our daily life. If we started to look at them as privileges, how would our lives change? I believe that we would begin to find goodness even in the most frustrating or challenging parts of life.

Remember that God’s perspective is higher than ours.

Regardless of our circumstances, we have to remember that God’s perspective will always be so much greater than ours. He sees the big picture, and He coordinates everything according to it. He sticks to the plan, His master plan. We have to trust that God truly knows better than we do.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.”

-Isaiah 55:8-9

When we begin to change our perspective and mindset about our current circumstances, we open ourselves up to so many possibilities. Suddenly, life begins to feel like a privilege. Our circumstances in this present moment seem so much more important to live out fully. 

It truly is a privilege to live this life.

Accepting Where You Are When It Isn’t What You Wanted (Stewarding Your Season #2)

I never thought I would still be a stay-at-home mom at this point. When Wesley was born, I always imagined him going to daycare and me pursuing a career once he turned a year old. But one year came and went, and I chose to continue to stay home with him.

And to be honest, that decision has been really hard on me.

These days, I often find myself wondering what am I even doing with my life? I have such strong passions and dreams, and yet I’m still spending my days with my 15 month old. I long for a career and going into the office. My book dreams are at the forefront of my mind. Motherhood is my primary job today, but what about my other callings and giftings?

I’m continuing to trust that if this is where God has me, there must be purpose in it. If this is the decision we made as a family and we knew God was in it, it must have been for a reason. I’m planting seeds and tilling the soil until the flourishing comes.

I’ve accepted that this season right now is a necessary one–even if it isn’t what I wanted.

The Present Is All We Have

Once we’ve understood and named our current season, our next step is to accept it. Most of us wish we were somewhere else in life. We wish for different careers, to go on a vacation, or to have children. Some of us wish we could revive a lost relationship or go back to an old home or job. 

I know I find myself longing for things that have been long gone. But I also find myself wishing for the future at times. I wonder what things will be like when I have a career again or when Wesley is in school. Life often moves too slow for our liking.

But the truth is, the present is all we really have. The choices we make now impact our future. And the way we live the season we are in now shapes our future too. Even if our current season is one that we would never choose, we still have to accept that it’s where we are now. We have to remember that God is the author of our lives. He’s holding the trail map, and He’s writing it out. It’s our job to follow the map, living each moment presently and with purpose.

Accepting Where We Are

When I think about accepting where we are, I think about being okay with our circumstances. I imagine an attitude of complete trust and surrender. I imagine showing God gratitude for what he’s given, even if it’s not something we wanted or knew we needed. Accepting where we are comes with an attitude of humility as we lay down our own agendas and need for control. It’s an active heart-change and attitude shift. 

We have to accept where we are before we can live it well or live it better. We cannot steward the life we’ve been given well when we’re too busy wishing it away. Instead, we have to take what we’ve been given and use it for God’s glory. 

Where you are right now is all part of God’s master plan for your life. When you accept that this season is a necessary one in your faith journey, you will begin to see all the ways that God is working things out for you right here and now.

But how do we accept where we are, especially if it isn’t what we wanted?

We practice gratitude for what we have, even when it’s hard.

Gratitude is a spiritual discipline I come back to often. It’s the act of thanking God for what he has given and done for us. Even when it’s hard to thank God today, look for the little things, the small pieces of goodness that still exist. Sometimes it’s just the soft breeze or the dandelions in the grass. Begin thanking God for his good gifts, and soon you will be able to see his hand in everything.

We give control back to God.

It’s hard to accept where we are when we’re trying to be in control of our lives. Sometimes, we can even believe that we’ve failed because we aren’t where we thought we would be. But God is in control of the universe, not us. We cannot will for things to be a certain way and make it happen. When we give control back to God, we are giving him permission to continue being in control. It takes the pressure off of us and puts control back where it belongs.

We take on an attitude of surrender.

When we give control back to God, it’s easier to take on an attitude of surrender. To me, surrender looks like open-handed living. It’s living in such a way that we are open to what God is doing in our lives and allowing the Spirit to guide us. You can read more about open-handed living in a blog post from last summer here.

We lay down our own agendas and expectations.

I’ve always been someone that has high expectations. For most of my life, it’s served me well. It’s helped me keep my standards high and stick to my morals when making decisions. But it’s also led to a lot of disappointment when life turns out differently than I planned or expected. I’ve learned that it’s important to have some expectations and plans, but we have to be open to what God could do. We have to allow room for God to work. We have to be willing to set aside our own agendas and expectations so God’s can be the ones that guide our lives.

When we are able to accept where we are, we are better able to steward this season of life. I pray that you are encouraged in knowing that God doesn’t make mistakes. There are no accidents with God. He has you where you are for a specific purpose at this specific time.

Understanding Where You Are (Stewarding Your Season #1)

The days of this season blend together. Our routines and rhythms are mundane, yet so life-giving. Our morning play time and walk by the river reminds me to slow down and enjoy these days with my growing boy. My daily Bible reading is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise ordinary day. 

This season is one of slow growth. It’s one of reclaiming who I am as a woman, apart from my work or what I can produce. It’s a season of planting seeds and growing deep roots before any sort of blooming can take place. And honestly, this season is one of wondering if this writing life is for me after all. In reclaiming who I am, I’m also discovering new interests and passions as I allow myself to dream of a future that is open-ended and in God’s hands completely. 

This is where I find myself today. Where is it that you find yourself?

Where Do You Find Yourself Today?

This question seems easy enough to answer. But for many people, it’s complicated. For someone just learning the concept of seasonal living, it can be difficult to compartmentalize life into “seasons” or “chapters”. The transition between seasons can often be difficult to pinpoint as well. For others, even naming the characteristics of their current season can be overwhelming. This is especially true for those who are experiencing a time of challenges or a season of deep growth. Even the monotony can be difficult to name.

For so many people, life is just happening around them. They aren’t an active participant, and they live life by going through the motions. Things just are the way they are. But are they really?

When I look back on my life, I see now that I lived this way for a long time. Life just happened around me, and I was caught in its waves. I didn’t understand my season, and in turn, I didn’t know what God was doing in my midst. I wasn’t even open to God’s movement because my mind and heart were so clouded. It’s hard to admit that I wasn’t even an active participant in my own life for many years.

But as I’ve grown and matured, God has revealed to me that life comes and goes in seasons. And through these seasons comes an invitation to partner with Him as I go. Life is not as fulfilling when I’m going at it alone.

It’s become clear to me now the various seasons I’ve walked through to get me to this point in time. Seasons of doubt, wandering, wilderness, transition—they all brought me here. But if I’m going to continue to grow and experience life fully, I have to understand what God is asking me to partner with him in. I believe that comes with understanding the season of life we are in and naming it.

God has revealed to me that life comes and goes in seasons. And through these seasons comes an invitation to partner with Him as I go.

Understanding Your Current Season

This series is all about stewarding our current season of life well. The first step in doing this is understanding our current season of life. We cannot steward well what we don’t understand or don’t realize that we have. We have to break down our current season into something more digestible and easy to comprehend so we can understand it and accept it. 

Being able to name our current season empowers us to live it more fully and presently. When we understand where we are, we can become a more active participant in our own life. Instead of going through the motions, we instead can show up, eager to experience what God has for us.

When I started viewing life in chapters, it helped me to better comprehend what I’m experiencing in the present moment. It gave me permission to focus on the here and now when the world was focusing on the hustle. And once I started naming my season and looking for the goodness in it, my life began to change.

I want that for you too. I long for each of us to live a full life, experiencing all that God has for us, learning the lessons God gives through trials and slow growth, and becoming more like Christ daily. Let’s learn to understand and name the season we are in so we can grow together.

Once I started naming my season and looking for the goodness in it, my life began to change.

Reflecting on Where We Are

In order to truly understand something, we have to figure out what is true and what isn’t. We have to reflect and observe. 

Here are some reflection questions to help you understand what season of life you find yourself in:

What are some characteristics of this season? (i.e. peaceful, dry, challenging, etc.)

What is familiar about this season? What is new or different?

How can you feel yourself being stretched in this season?

What trials are you currently facing?

What big life events have happened recently?

Oftentimes, the characteristics of this season will point you to what kind of season it is. If you’re feeling spiritually dry, this may be a season of deconstruction or spiritual doubt or drought where you will need to spend some time reclaiming your faith. If it’s covered in peace and contentment, this may be a season of rejoicing in the little things and planting seeds.

The trials, life events, and stretching in this season will also point to what season you are in. It could mean a season of grieving a loss, transitioning, or shifting identity. Of course, many seasons of life include many characteristics and feelings of being stretched. The beautiful thing about the human experience is that there is nuance. There is no one size fits all.

When we begin to reflect upon where we are, we are on our way to living a fuller life. So, wherever you find yourself today, know that understanding and naming it will only empower you to live it better. We are on our way to stewarding it well.

Stewarding Your Season: A Series

This present moment. Your current season. Living fully right where you are.

I tend to write a lot about these themes here on this blog. I’m passionate about helping you live fully right where you are, as I’ve been learning how to do so over the last few years. There’s something about understanding where we are and embracing it fully that leads to a more fulfilling life. And something about that inspires me to put it into digestible words for us to absorb and learn from.

Your Current Season

Consider these questions: Where do you find yourself at the present moment? What season of life do you find yourself in? And what are you doing about it?

For me, I’m in a season of learning to be content with the ordinary. My season is one of planting seeds that will flourish later. It’s a time of rediscovering who I am in a way that speaks truth to my current circumstances. And to be honest, sometimes I feel lost in these moments and long for something more exciting. Sometimes I wish for a moment where I can see the fruit of what I’m doing right now.

So many of us are going through the motions. We hurry through life, looking forward to the next thing. We run away from our struggles and have a hard time believing that there is goodness in trials. And sometimes, like me, the ordinary or monotony of daily life seems trivial, and we long for more. We lack gratitude for what we have right now.

But what if I told you that your current season is meant to be stewarded well? What if we lived in such a way that showed that we are thankful for what God has given—even when it’s difficult and painful?

Where you are right now—in any season—is an invitation into a fuller life. And through proper stewardship, we can embrace everything that God has intended for us.

Stewardship

Typically when we think about stewardship, we think about tithing or giving. While that’s certainly part of it—stewarding our finances well by giving back to the Giver—stewardship goes so much deeper than that.

Stewardship is taking good care of the things entrusted to us during our time on earth. It is using the good gifts God has given us to pursue our God-given purpose, serve others well, and bring further glory to God. And we can do that with our finances, our material possessions, and yes, even our season of life. 

Where you find yourself today didn’t happen by accident. I believe that God has you where you are for a reason. He has placed people in your life who will shape you, circumstances that will challenge you and help you grow, and seasons that hold profound lessons. And when God gives, it is an invitation to partner with him within this world.

Your current season of life was given as an invitation to live it fully, embracing all that it brings, and using it to bring glory to God. We can do all of that well when we steward this very moment that God has given.

When we steward our current season well, we are opening ourselves up to a fuller, more fulfilling life. Our lives are more in the present moment. They are intentional and focused.

When we live a more intentional life, stewarding well what has been given, we can:

• Experience God more fully in our life

• Connect deeper with others

• Learn what God is intending for us to learn through our circumstances

• Grow a deeper trust for God and his provision

• Live a more fulfilled life

• Become the people we are meant to become

• Find real peace and contentment

What to Expect

This series is intended to help you learn how to steward your current season well, even if your current circumstances aren’t what you wanted or hoped for. We will learn together how we can better care for these days that have been entrusted to us.

Over the next month, I will be exploring this idea of stewarding our current season well with the four steps:

1. Understanding Where We Are: Figuring out exactly what season of life you are in so you can steward it well.

2. Accepting Where We Are: Learning how to accept the season of life you are in, especially if it’s something you wish was different.

3. Changing Our Perspective: Beginning to view the season of life you are in as an invitation and a privilege.

4. Making a Choice to Live More Presently: Finding practical ways to live more intentionally and presently and choosing to do so.

My hope is that by the end of this series, you will be equipped to steward whatever season of life God gives well. May we be people who are willing to walk the path God has given, no matter how painful or challenging. May we become people who seek God first even amongst life’s deepest difficulties. And may we always remember that our steps in life have purpose. Let’s steward them well.

Finding Abundance Right Where We Are

Too small of an apartment, not enough hours in the day, nowhere near enough time for me to pursue my dreams. As much as I try to be a glass half-full person, I’m much more familiar with the glass half-empty way of thinking. For much of my life I’ve lived with this scarcity mindset: not having enough or somehow missing out on what’s “out there” or to come. 

But, as I get older, I’m learning that this way of thinking only hinders myself and my satisfaction with my current life. Longing for more or for better takes away from the goodness I’m living in now.

When I look around at my life, yes, I see the things that aren’t great and the things that I wish were better. But I also see that God has given me exactly what I need for this moment in time. There is still abundance here, even if it’s not in the ways that I think it should be. I know that there’s abundance in your life too.

In The Garden

When I think about living a life of abundance, I’m reminded of the story of Adam in the Garden of Eden. We tend to remember this story because of The Fall, but I remember it because of what God intended for humanity before The Fall. 

In Genesis, we see that God created Adam in his image to fulfill a purpose. He then gives Adam a place to live and care for (the Garden), and God gives him a helper (Eve). God provided beauty and nourishment for Adam in the Garden.

There are three things that God intended for us, as shown in his creation and purpose for Adam in Genesis:

• To live as image-bearers because we are created by God himself, in His image. (1:26)

• To live out God’s purposes for us because we all are given a purpose by God. (2:5-7)

• To live a life of abundance because God provides our every need, as in line with his purpose for us (2:9)

We know that this story ends with sin entering the world. Even though Adam and Eve had everything they could have wanted, they still sought more. Their life of plentiful abundance wasn’t enough for them. 

Isn’t it true that we view our lives this way too?

Living Abundantly

Because of The Fall, we now view abundance in a worldly way. Instead of having what we need, what we have isn’t quite enough. Abundance has become synonymous with having everything we want and using what we have for our own glory.

Living a life of abundance isn’t having everything we could ever want and using it for our own means. Instead, it’s having everything that God intends for us to have so we can fulfill the purposes he has given us. It is living a life of fruitfulness using the resources available to you. It’s accepting what God has given and stewarding it well.

God has given you exactly what you need exactly where you are right now for a purpose. When we begin to accept God’s good gifts and use them to glorify him and fulfill his purposes, that’s when abundance once again has its rightful place.

Let’s reclaim the abundance mindset that God intended for us in Adam’s very creation.

Finding Abundance Right Here

How can we find abundance right here, in this very moment?

We begin by remembering God’s intention for us in our creation: to live as image-bearers, with purpose, every need provided for. God has us where we are with what we have for a reason.

What does that look like for you?

For me, although life as a stay at home mom of an almost toddler is exhausting, I know that my purpose at this time is to simply be Wesley’s mom. God has provided me the time and space to perform this purpose. I’m planting seeds that will later flourish as Wesley grows older. And even though I find myself frustrated with our housing search and feel stuck in our small apartment, I have to remember that this is all we need at this time.

Next, we begin to live out of a place of abundance. I know that sounds like a big ask. But hear me out—what if we started to live as though we have everything we need? What if we lived as though what we have is enough for right now?

This looks like stewarding what we have well. For me, this looks like keeping my home organized and clean, giving of my time and money to good causes, spending more time with my family, and living more in the present moment. It is using what we have for God’s glory and getting rid of anything that creates clutter in our hearts or minds.

We were made for abundance, but not abundance as the world sees it. We are living abundantly when we reclaim God’s intention for us. Abundance is right where you are. How will you choose to live with the abundance afforded to you today?

Six Simple Ways to Remember God’s Goodness

This morning, I found myself sitting on our couch, coffee mug in hand, cat on my lap. With Wesley still asleep, these small moments of morning quiet bring calm to my heart. On this particular morning, I’m remembering moments that have passed. Moments where God’s goodness shone through my struggles. Past experiences where goodness overcame the evil that was so evident in my life.

I haven’t always lived in tune with God’s goodness in my life. I sought happiness and acceptance from this world. My sin drowned me and ran rampant. Even when I turned to God and began to follow him, I didn’t realize how good he really was to me. I found myself struggling with depression and anxiety, despairing over things that I should have given to God.

But these days, I’m learning to remember God’s goodness. It’s become a habit, a really good one at that. My eyes are being opened as I slow down and look for God in every little thing.

God’s goodness is always in full supply. It’s poured out for us all throughout this world and throughout our lives. But do we have eyes to see it?

The Goodness of God 

Scripture speaks widely about the goodness of God:

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” -1 Chronicles 16:34

“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” -Psalm 23:6

“I will remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” -Psalm 27:13

“The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” -Psalm 145:9

“No one is good except God alone.” -Mark 10:18

When we look at God’s goodness within Scripture, we can see that his goodness often shows his generosity toward us. He brings joy and blessings to all of his creation. His goodness is in His character, and we often see that goodness in our lived experience.

My own life experience is also a testament of God’s goodness. Over and over, God has overcome evil and darkness with his goodness and light. He has provided for me when I least expected it. And He has been generous to me with his grace, mercy, and love.

When I look back on how God has shown me his goodness, I’m often overcome with emotion. How could a God so good truly love me?

You see, we need to remember God’s goodness to us because it causes us to worship God in a deeper way. It gives us peace and fills our cup. It guides our way and gives us hope.

Here are six ways to remember God’s goodness:

Slow down.

When we slow down and take time to truly see, our eyes will be opened to the goodness of God around us. Have you ever noticed that you get irritable or frustrated when you’re speeding through life? Me too, friend. Slow down, and you will open yourself up to a whole new experience of God and his goodness.

Look for God in the little things.

God is everywhere. He is in everything. He’s in my early morning coffee, my patio garden, and my cats who bring me great comfort. God is in all of creation. Sometimes the small things in life often get overlooked, but the small things are where God is actually really big. Make it a habit to look for God in every little thing.

Spend time in nature.

I often find that God speaks to me in nature. Being out amongst His creation gives me such peace and inspiration. Go on a walk, hike, or bike ride today. Notice the wind, the leaves, and the green sprouting up around you. God’s goodness is there.

Meditate on Scripture.

When we spend time in Scripture and truly meditate on it, we come to see that God really is good. He cares deeply for his creation. He provides what we need when we need it—even if it’s not what we expected. Spend time meditating on Scripture and you will learn more about God’s character and his provision.

Take on a posture of continual worship.

We can take on a posture of worship at any moment. When we live life slowed down, unhurried, and open-handed, that is a posture of worship. When we look for God in the little things, that is also a posture of worship. You can worship God anywhere you are by the way you are living and choosing to love others well.

Reflect on ways God has provided for you.

God is continually providing for us. And there are so many ways that he’s already done so. Take some time to reflect upon all the ways that God has been generous toward you throughout your life. You will see God’s goodness through his generosity and provision.

God’s goodness is everywhere. Do you have eyes to see it?

Seasons of Preparation: Lessons from a Jalapeño Plant

Over the summer, I was given a jalapeño plant. It was just a small seedling with a few leaves. I had read that jalapeño plants typically won’t produce jalapeños when it’s above 90 degrees. Because I live in Texas, I went into that summer with pretty low expectations for the plant. However, I still watered it twice a week and kept repotting it as it grew, which it did fast! We had a few near misses with it, as the plant toppled over a few times on windy days. I had to start using a large rock to prop up the stem. 

Once it dropped below 80, then 70, I started losing hope for it, but I continued to nurture it. The plants around it continued to bloom, but this one still hadn’t produced any jalapeños. It seemed to want to produce them–it still flowered and tried to grow. But once the flowers opened that would eventually turn into the vegetable, they would shrivel up and fall off. But then one day, when it had dropped to 39 degrees one morning, I noticed two small jalapeños finally breaking through the flowering. 

This plant that I had raised from a little seedling had taken all summer absorbing nutrients, growing tall, and watching the other plants around it flourish had finally had its turn. When the conditions were right and it had done all the preparation it could do, it finally bloomed.

A Season of Preparation

I often feel like this jalapeño plant, watching others around me bloom, yet I’m still waiting for my time in the sun. Just like anyone else, I have dreams and passions, talents and goals. But they have yet to gain traction or turn into something that makes sense.

With my writing, I often feel like I’m behind. I see other people writing book proposals, publishing award-winning books, gaining traction to their blogs, and gaining Instagram followers… All while I’m sitting at home barely finding time to write between taking care of my home and my infant. Let me be clear here: I’m truly not saying this to complain. I absolutely love my life and my child. However, it’s a real tension to feel like it’s not your turn yet but desperately wanting it to be.

Have you felt this tension before? Like you are nurturing your talents and stewarding your giftings well, yet you still feel like it isn’t your turn?

Do you often feel like you’ve been in a perpetual season of waiting?

Are you desperate for your time in the sun, but keep being pushed into the shade?

Maybe you are finding yourself in what I like to call a season of preparation. 

Seasons of Preparation

A season of preparation is the season of life where God is inviting you to absorb, grow, and gain knowledge until the conditions are right for you to bloom. It’s a time where we are preparing the field, spreading seeds within ourselves, and waiting until the sun comes from behind the clouds, beckoning us into flourishing. This is a season imperative to the Christian life, but we often don’t take advantage of it. We treat it like another season of waiting. 

But what if I told you that your season of waiting is also a season of preparation in disguise?

Both seasons of waiting and seasons of preparation ask us to be patient while God is making the way for us. Both require us to trust that God has us right where we are for a purpose. And both seasons invite us into present-moment living and intentionality. 

But seasons of preparation ask us to go deeper yet. Seasons of preparation invite us to pull up a chair and welcome the opportunities to absorb the ways God is moving around and within us. Preparation seasons ask us to focus on how we can be preparing ourselves for where we want or sense God is asking us to go. These seasons can be life changing if embraced properly, yet painful if embraced with bitterness or unwillingness to grow. Or worse yet–preparing for something that God isn’t calling you or leading you into at all.

I like to think of seasons of preparation as God preparing, equipping, and making ready our hearts for what he is calling us into.

Prepare to Flourish

Just like the jalapeño plant continued to grow tall during its preparation for flourishing, God is calling us to do the same. He is calling us to absorb what He has to teach us right here and now. He is inviting us into deeper communion with Him so we can be equipped and prepared for what He has next for us on our journey.

I want to be clear that this season of preparation is not one that is without flourishing in itself. Even the jalapeño plant grew flowers before it grew the jalapeños. But those flowers were not ready to hold the jalapeños so they shriveled. We are the same. God will not allow us to hold what we are not ready to steward well.

Think about that job opportunity you really want. Will God give it to you if you are not yet able to steward that gift well?

What about that book you want to write? God will not give you the book deal if you’re not able to embody the message in your very being. And hey- maybe you haven’t yet experienced what God is wanting your book to be about!

For myself, I’ve written a few blog posts on my old site that gained a little traction. But looking back, God stopped the traction and growth on my blog and social media platforms because I wasn’t ready to steward them well yet. I had yet to become the person God was calling me to be. My heart wasn’t in the right place, and I was too focused on the numbers and followers. I needed a season of preparation to set myself right with God and to absorb the nutrients I would need when my time of blooming did come.

Preparing, Equipping, and Making Ready

Sometimes it’s a bitter pill to swallow that what we’re walking through is a season of preparation. It can be difficult to see within ourselves what needs to change so that we can better steward the things God is calling us into. Oftentimes, God will take away what we think we need most so we can realize that all we need is him. It’s only through him that we’re able to flourish into the best versions of ourselves.

I like to think of seasons of preparation as God preparing, equipping, and making ready our hearts for what he is calling us into. But how do we do that? How can we be faithful in this journey toward personal growth and nurturing?

Here are a few ways that we can open our hearts to what God has for us in seasons of preparation:

Pray that God would reveal the areas in your life that need the most attention.

Have you ever thought about the fact that God wants you to grow so that you can walk into his calling for your life? Ask God what areas of your life need the most attention, and write them down. This exercise may be painful, but it will be helpful toward your growth during this season of preparation. Once God reveals these areas, ask him to reveal ways that you can grow in them.

Find and absorb resources that will act as nutrients for your blooming.

There are numerous resources out there that can help you on your journey. I’ve been absorbing books that speak into the season I’m currently living in, as well as resources that help guide me on my writing journey. What resources are out there that can act as nutrients for you right now?

Focus on your relationship with God first during this season.

During seasons of preparation it can be easy to try to escape, look to others for comfort, or compare ourselves to others and their progress. Instead of looking for an escape, lean into God during this time. Your relationship with God during trying seasons will greatly impact how you leave this season and venture onto the next. Look to God first and trust that he has you here for a purpose.

Discern whether your dreams are his dreams.

Are the dreams that you have in your heart stemming from your own wants and desires or are they truly from God? Practice discernment in this area and test the spirits to know what is of God and what is of your own making. This will take prayer, confiding in others, and deep self-awareness. Take your time as you discern God’s plans for you.

Your time will come. Just like the jalapeño plant sitting out on my patio, now growing several jalapeños, a time of preparation was necessary for its eventual prospering. For now, use this time to learn, ask questions, absorb, and rest. Your time to bloom is coming.