A Message in the Garden

Restoration typically begins with a desire to resurrect, grow, or move forward into the next phase of God’s will for you. For me, it is often preceded by a desire for change. This, in turn, typically results in a pivot towards self-care, self-repair, and most importantly, a realignment with God for the renewal, healing, and revitalization that He promises, and that only He can provide.

“And I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you." - Ezekiel 36:26a

This month’s theme of restoration caused me to reflect upon a season in my life in 2018 when I faced multiple challenges regarding difficult life events, illness, and loss. The weight of these challenges hit hard and affected my physical health, but had also undeniably sharpened and reinvigorated my spiritual health. I began to rely more and more on my faith and was reminded that this was indeed only a season. 

Seasons change. God reveals this in his creations, as well as in our lives. He prepares and sharpens us so that we may be increasingly ready for the plans he has for us and the unseen battles we have not yet encountered along our journey towards and through JOY! 

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

The long-term, physical damage to my health that the doctors so confidently and emphatically predicted during this time never manifested. Praise Him. I rejected the spirit of hopelessness and trusted only in God’s plans for hopefulness, revival, and restoration. “He’s never failed me yet.”

And 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 NIV

During that time, my garden had been a place of solace, whether working in it or sitting in it. This holds true even today. It so happened that the winter of 2018 in Orlando, albeit short, produced several nights of temperatures at or below freezing which really hit the garden hard. As a result, I lost a lot of fruit trees and tropical plants.

One memorable February morning, although I had early meetings scheduled for work, I felt led to begin the day out there amongst the plants and trees with the sunrise. I began by removing the dead leaves, trees, and plants so that I might begin planting their replacements and prepare for the upcoming season.

It was incredibly early, also quiet, and peaceful. While working there in the garden, I was talking with God as I often do. As I was pruning away the damage from the freeze, I noticed that a lot of what I assumed to be fully dead had actually begun to rejuvenate in the form of new buds or sprouts beneath the brown or in the stalks.

I said to myself, "Wow! These plants and trees really withstood a lot and still managed to survive. These things that God made are truly resilient." 

And then He spoke to me and said, "So are you."

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