There’s a common phrase people like to use when things may have not worked out in life the way you want them to, or the way you expected them to; “Bloom where you’re planted.”
And while that’s a nice sentiment, it’s really not always possible.
We have some tulips in our front yard that were planted before we ever moved into our house. They’re one of those amazing flowers that just pops up every year, and you don’t even have to do anything to them. We honestly forget about their existence until they show up in the spring.
Well, this year (every year?) the weather has been a little crazy. We had a super sunny day in the 70s after weeks of chilly dreary weather.
Our tulips soaked it up. They were so happy! They opened up those petals and just had all their beauty on display. Well, two days later the weather turned chilly again, and the temps dropped like 30 degrees! That morning when I went outside, those tulips had closed back up. They weren’t fully blooming anymore.
They had closed up to protect themselves against the elements. They knew the difference between sunny days and chilly weather. So it seems that conditions have to be right for them to fully bloom.
However, I noticed that even though the tulips had closed up, they were still growing. New buds had even shown up and become full-size. The plants looked stronger. And even though their petals hadn’t opened up, their colors were still vibrant, striking even. They were still beautiful.
And the same can be said of us. We are often in situations or places where the conditions aren’t right for us to fully bloom. For whatever reason we have to close ourselves up to protect ourselves from the elements, or it just isn’t the right time or season to fully bloom. We can tell the difference between sunny days and chilly weather.
However, it is absolutely to still grow! No matter where we are in life, no matter what is happening, God is with us! He never leaves us and is always investing in our spiritual growth. Just like those tulips, we can become stronger- developing new buds and growing them to full size.
And when the time is right, we can bloom.
1 Corinthians 7:23-24
(23) Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
(24) Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
2 Peter 3:18
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
2 Corinthians 12:9
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Of Faith & Fortitude 