11-22-20 Pushing Through the Dirt
Quote: “Every flower grows through some dirt.” – Michelle McClain-Walters
A group of ladies and I did a study one time of a woman from the Bible named Hannah. The story of Hannah in a nutshell is this – she wanted a baby more than anything. Her husband’s wife was having baby after baby. We studied how Hannah continued to serve while she was in the waiting season. She finally prays to God and makes him a promise that if he grants her a child, she will dedicate him back to the Lord. Eventually she becomes pregnant and gives birth to Samuel, one of the Bible’s greatest and wisest men, who she does dedicate to God. Hannah learned resilience because God didn’t answer her prayers right away. His timing was best!
The author of the book we were studying, “The Hannah Anointing,” said this quote at the end of her book. She says, “I am not the woman I am today because my life has been easy. I have been betrayed, falsely accused, and gossiped about. I’ve learned that every flower grows through some dirt. I made a choice to allow my pain to transform me into a vessel fit for the Master’s use.”
This really stuck with me this week. Many people are hurting. They are struggling. Many of us are in a waiting season. Things are not going according to plan. We keep getting one blow after another blow. Is there an end in sight for all this craziness?! We need some relief!
The image of a flower pushing forth out of the dirt is such a powerful reminder that the seed doesn’t become a flower in one day. It’s got to do a ton of work underground and above ground first! It’s got to get comfy in the soil. It’s got to grow some roots to keep it strong. Then it will start to push through the dirt… slowly. Then it pushes forth and grows tall. Then a bud forms. Then it unwraps itself. Slowly a petal comes out, then 2 more, then 5 more, until a perfect circle of petals emerges. A daisy has been formed!
But it had to grow through some dirt first.
Romans 8:28 is many people’s favorite verse and it is perfect for this topic. It says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” This verse tells us that God works all things for good. That means the dirt and the daisy are part of the painstaking process of growing.
We have to choose to look at the dirt as a positive part of the process.
And don’t forget to talk to God about the hard times along the way, just like Hannah did. She finally came to the point where all she could do was cry out to God for help. I was having such a rough day one time that I went up to my prayer room and literally yelled this out: “I’m not just making lemonade out of all these lemons, God, I’m running a whole lemonade stand today! You have got to help a sister out!”
Let’s instead look at the hard or uncertain times differently. Perhaps all the dirt is a sign that you are about to bloom!
