Abide

A couple of months ago, God spoke to me unexpectedly. I'd been feeling restless for months and couldn't figure out why, despite earnest prayer and asking Him to reveal what was going on in my heart.

That day, He gave me a vision of a hand tilling some lush soil. Immediately, I knew He was showing me He was digging deep, turning over the ground of my heart, pulling up the weeds and roots that threatened to choke my relationship with Him. He was showing me He was preparing the soil of my heart for whatever He had in store for me.

Around the same time, God kept surrounding me with reminders about abiding in Him. Podcasts. Daily devotions. Scripture readings. The God echoes reminding me of His care for me.

Then, just this morning, He spoke again - this time through a simple orchid. 

Last year, I was given a beautiful orchid for Mother's Day. After its first bloom, the flowers fell away, and truthfully, it looked ready to throw away. I don't have much of a green thumb, but I was determined it wouldn't die. For over a year, I watered it, made sure it got the right amount of light, fed it nutrients, and trimmed away the dead leaves, in the hope that one day, it would bloom with beauty again. 

Last week, I noticed six tiny buds forming. Excitement simmered at the thought of seeing the buds flower, but doubt quickly followed. What if they shrivel and fall off? What if all this waiting and tending has been for nothing? I decided that if the buds fell off, I would throw the plant away. All that work for nothing!

But this morning, one bud unfurled into a beautiful flower. Perfect purple petals brightened up my kitchen. And in that moment, God reminded me: this is what happens when you remain in Me. When I stay rooted in His word, when I lean into His presence, when I make Him a priority over the noise of this world, He is faithful to nurture my soul. Even through seasons of painful pruning or the tilling of my heart, His love and care are constant. And just as the orchid bloomed at the right time, He will bring forth beautiful fruit in my life - at the right time.

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me." - John 15:4.

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