Chopped Off, But Growing

Floyd's condition remains much the same.  I'm sure it's hard for him that we still can't visit him too.  I pray all the time for comfort for him!

I've been thinking recently of how Jesus understands everything we go through because He walked through the same things during His time on earth.  I was reminded of this as I watched a recent episode of Season 2 of "The Chosen."   

In the 3rd episode Jesus is going to bed after a long intense day of ministering to people.  He says "I'm so tired."  He looks utterly exhausted!

As I watched that scene, something within me was touched.  It brought home afresh that Jesus understands what we walk through!  He understands when we are tired, weak, and weary.  He is able to strengthen us because He knows just what we need.  It brought fresh grace to my heart just realizing that profound truth once again.

So many times when I've thought I just can't make it, I draw on His "understanding" grace......He understands because He walked through the same things we face.  He is "intimately acquainted" with everything we face.  What a wonderful assurance that is.  He is ready to whisper comfort to us in our time of need.   

"This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all the same testings we do, yet He did not sin."  Hebrews 4:15

"Jesus, tired as He was from the journey, sat down by the well."  John 4:6

"My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death."  Matthew 26:38

"He will hide me in His shelter in the day of trouble; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will lift me high upon a rock."  Psalm 27:5

In our hardest, weakest, darkest moments - Jesus doesn't leave us to survive alone.  He enters into what we are walking through and helps us.  I remember on my lowest days in the hospital recently - on the days when the doctors didn't know if I'd make it......I had such a peace, and a sense of Jesus being right with me.  He understands and He helps us!  What a blessed assurance that is as we face all the unknowns of the future.

Because I have been mostly alone here at home for the past 13 months during the pandemic, I tend to be very observant of everything around me.  One of the points of beauty that I love looking at is our flowering bougainvillea plants.  They bloom all year long.  They are such cheerful bright spots! 

Two of the bougainvillea plants climb up along the wall of our deck.  I have to constantly keep them trimmed back or they spoil the lovely ocean view that we have.  That beautiful view of God's creation ministers to my heart daily!  It has helped me through many bed-ridden days of chemo treatment.  It's been such a gift to my soul.

I've noticed in recent months that we no sooner trim the plants back, than they start sprouting up again.  This last time I noticed that they climbed "up to the sky" 4-6 inches in one day after being cut.  It's quite amazing!  You can see them in the picture above this post.

I was sitting looking at them one day when I realized the spiritual lesson they show.  They get drastically cut off, chopped down.....but then they turn around and grow anew.  Nothing stops them!  They reach for the sun and light as soon as they've been cut off.  And in the midst of all that, they blossom beautifully.

As I was observing this, thinking about it - I found myself spontaneously praying that no matter what gets "chopped off" in my life, no matter how much I'm "cut off" - I want to pick up the pieces and keep growing, keep reaching out to the Son and the light of His goodness.  I don't want anything to keep me from growing.  And I pray I'll be able to "blossom" in spite of whatever comes my way.

I've been praying as I do my deck walking that I'll be like the bougainvillea - growing afresh whenever I'm chopped down!  It's been a special lesson in God's creation.

"We glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit."  Romans 5:3-5

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."  2 Corinthians 4:8

"The God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."  1 Peter 5:10

"In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."  Romans 8:28 

I'm so grateful for the wonderful lessons of spiritual life and growth that God has put into His creation to show us how to walk with Him!