Replanting Ourselves by Tobi Bockman

When I was asked to write a feature article around the theme of gardening or nurturing for our church ladies newsletter, I laughed—out loud! The color of my thumbs is certainly not green. I love plants, and they must love me . . . to death. I can’t keep anything alive. So you can see why I thought it funny that I was to write an article on a topic of which I am clearly not an expert. But as I was studying the barely living Gerber daisies that rest on my kitchen windowsill, this thought came to mind. At some point, I’m going to have to replant these daisies. They are going to grow out of their pots or die from lack of room to grow.

In order for something to grow, it has to be given the proper space for its expected growth. It’s just common sense. I can’t expect a rose bush to grow in a small vase or a small pot. Just like my Gerber daisies (by the way, please pray that they live), we must give ourselves the proper room and the proper space to grow.

Does the habitat or “greenhouse” of your life allow for you to grow? Or is it cluttered with dirt and rocks? Is it dry and longing for moisture? If we are ever expected to grow spiritually, we must weed out our life’s greenhouse, move out the rock pile, and saturate ourselves with refreshing water. We say we want to grow, but the rock pile—things on our schedule choke out the roots.

We say we want to grow, but we keep our spiritual well dry. We say rain on me, Lord, but our raincoats are on and our umbrellas are up. We want to grow, but this pot we’re planted in is so comfortable. “Please don’t up root us, Lord.”

The Bible says that we are known by our fruit, but how can we be fruitful when we haven’t given room for fruit to grow? Maybe it’s time we invest in some spiritual potting soil and gardening tools and replant ourselves into the place that God has designed—a place with room for growth.

I am convicted even as I write this. I do not want to be a Christian with droopy yellowing leaves, living in a dry, cracked, clay vessel. No, I want to be a Christian with luscious green leaves, roots that have traveled deep and still have room to grow, and blossoms fragrant of God.

Featured Articles