#144of365 #FaithBites #FaithJourney

Life Finds A Way

Every year, my daughters and I plant a garden. Most of it is vegetables and then we add some flowers to give the yard a bit of color. This year was started out no different. In February we went with the great-grandparents to find the seeds we going to plant. We laid the design for the garden and waited for it to get warm. We have three main flower beds, one for flowers and the other two for vegetables. In the flower bed, we had two perennials that started to come back, then four other plants I didn’t recognize. We wanted to see what they were, and it turned out they were our petunias from last year. This has never happened. Petunias are an annual plant that we get every year. These came back on their own. How beautiful is that? Now the story gets even more interesting.

Near the garage, we have two planter boxes, very small that are under the overhang for the garage. Like the main flower beds, we plant them with petunias once a year. These boxes, receive very little sunlight and no water. Today as I was leaving for work. One of the boxes had three petunia blooms. Even without light, water, or replanting, life found a way.

Faith is much like life. It finds a way. Even when we try to ignore it, even when we forget about it, it finds a way. God is our father and wants a relationship with his children. He wants to know us and will show us his presence throughout our lives. Even if we ignore him, he never goes away.

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8

“Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.” – Psalm 139:7-10

“But as for me, it is good to be near God.
    I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
    I will tell of all your deeds.” – Psalm 73:28

The birds chirping, that is God. The sun shining, that is God. The warm embrace of a loved one, that is God. The comfort after heartbreak, that is God. God created the heavens and the Earth (Genisis 1:1). He is here. God only wants you to walk humbly and love God and love People (Mark 12:30-31). He doesn’t ask for much and in return, he gives us so much. As it says in Psalms 73, I made the Sovereign Lord my refuge. No matter if you believe in God, he is there. No matter how depressed, how sinful, how ugly you feel, God is there. He will answer you prayers. You just need to be willing to listen.

And like those flowers, they grow without my help. I have done nothing to nurture them, but yet, every day they grow stronger, larger, and brighter. My beds are filled with his inspiration and love.
Now imagine if I watered those flowers? If I moved the boxes into the sunlight? If I added plant food? How they would blossom and grow.

Our faith is like that. We don’t need extra water. We don’t need extra sunlight. We just need to love God and worship him. Then our spirits will blossom and grow.

Are you willing to expand your faith? Are you willing to see that God is your father, your partner, your friend, and ever-present?

I am willing with the help of God.