If you know me very well, you know that I love Morning Glories. You know, that trumpet flower that men call weeds. It’s true that they will wander and grow out of control if you don’t keep up with them.
This year, I haven’t been able to take care of the flowers as well as in the past and they have grown without my assistance. Or rather, have grown in spite of neglect. There are so many object lessons in my patch of Morning Glories. (Just imagine how many I would have if I had planted the seeds that I harvested last year!)
For today, my lesson is that sometimes while looking at the full picture, we miss the one perfect flower hidden beneath the vines and bushes. We often take credit for the things we work hard for and cultivate. However, the plant that endures scorching ninety-degree weather without water, stands up against buffeting winds during a sudden storm after a week of drought and still produces flowers is amazing to me. It grows stronger in adversity.
Sometimes, life is like that. We don’t always see God’s hand working in the hardships of life. We don’t understand why He allows things to happen without intervening. Sometimes it’s because He is making us stronger. We must depend upon Him and be fed by studying His Word. In those times of trials, we can give in to depression and shrivel up, become angry and choke out something beautiful or we can trust in Him to make us what He wants us to become. When we trust and wait on Him, we grow and blossom and become someone God can use in the life of someone else. Someone is always watching. What will they see?
Will they just see leafy vines or will they see the beautiful bloom that was once hidden under hardships and endured?
“Be still, and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms 46:10
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Katherine H. Purdy 