Back to the Garden
“Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.”
Sisters, yesterday was an “endure in affliction” day. I had a rock bottom type of day yesterday, so this passage really hits home today. When things are hard, I don’t feel like enduring and persevering - much less rejoicing.
But today, today I choose to rejoice. Today I choose to persevere - even though I don’t feel like it. Even though I feel disappointed and stressed and frustrated and sad, I know I have to get back into the arms of the Father. This is the exact moment when I need to get back to the garden where I find my God.
The endurance moments are invitations back to the garden.
Challenges and afflictions are invitations back into the garden where we find the Father. In His presence, in His garden, I am found. I am seen. I am known. I am wanted. All I am and all I will be is already known to Him. I am safe to bring my whole self - the beautiful bits and the broken bits.
My endurance moments are my opportunities to persevere in prayer - moments when God can bring about transformation. When I hit endurance moments, God is inviting me to grow in character. My response to affliction allows me the opportunity to bloom into the woman God made me to be.
God invites me to BLOOM in seasons of endurance.
If I respond to challenges, frustrations, and affliction by rejoicing in hope, I’m blooming. If I respond by persevering in prayer, by running back to the garden, I’m blooming.
My endurance moments are marked by choice. Do I run back to the garden or do I sit on a rock and pout? Do I lean into Him or push Him away? Do I share my whole heart - even the parts I’m not proud of - with the Father? Or do I try to cover myself up to look better in front of Him?
Affliction leads to intimacy.
When we’re afflicted, when we have to rely on the strength of our God - we’re invited into intimacy. I can’t endure affliction on my own; I’m too weak. When I welcome Him into affliction, when I let Him see all the parts of me - my weakness, my strength, my sin, and my virtue - He transforms me, and He earns my trust all over again.
My Father doesn’t have to win my trust back, but He chooses to do it anyway. He invites me back into the garden. He invites me home. He invites me back to the table. He invites me to bloom. He invites me to bear my whole self to Him - and to be loved just the same.
Father,
Thank You for inviting us back into the garden - for inviting us to be close to You once more. Thank You for seeing us - all the parts of us, good and bad - and choosing us anyway.
Father, we want to run back to Your garden. Please show us the way. Help us. Encourage us in our weak moments. We need You.
We love You, Abba. Amen.