Plant with Hope

I am now in my forties. For many years, I said that while my “ideal self” gardened, my real self never did. I’m not sure exactly what held me up. A few moves, worries about critters eating stuff, and probably more than a little intimidation fueled by inexperience. But this year, I finally did it. Not a full garden, but one tomato plant, one strawberry plant, and a pretty little shade garden I am excessively proud of.

I guess gardening is like a lot of other things that are initially intimidating. Once you try it and enjoy it, you want to do it more. Enter the lesson of the Japanese maple, the recent gardening project that reminded me about one of God’s more interesting (and challenging) strategies for our growth.

You see, in addition to the shade garden I planted, there was another overgrown garden space established by previous residents. Reminiscent of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s “The Secret Garden”, you could see that it used to be beautiful but was overgrown with weeds after years of neglect. After a bit of thought and research, I decided it would be the perfect spot to plant a Japanese maple. But in my ignorance, I figured I would need to wait until the spring to plant it. After all, isn’t that when you plant stuff? When it’s prime time for sunshine, rain, and immediate growth?

Turns out Japanese maples are best planted in the late fall, specifically about a month before the ground freezes. Then you just have to ride out the winter in the hope that what is happening out of sight is preparing it for growth and beauty. Gosh, doesn’t that sound familiar?

I really don’t mean to be over-spiritualizing this, but after 25 years of walking with the Lord, I have seen this pattern repeating itself. God sometimes has a way of planting stuff just as it gets cold, harsh, and dark. And then, he works all kinds of magic “underground” to help us emerge strong, healthy, and vibrant in another season. So in the spirit of celebration, I want to share just a few examples here:

Having Children

I know everyone’s experience isn’t like this, but many are. The early years of having a child are hard. God gives us these precious babies, and then we descend into difficult days marked by lack of sleep, questioning, and trying not to fall down the hole of catastrophe where we imagine our two-year-old’s challenges will be life-long experiences. And then, one day, we look up and those babies are not babies. And we are not so unsure anymore. God so often uses those days for growth. A mom on the other side of the early years of childrearing is a differently established woman.

Coming to Faith

Shortly before I came to faith, I was attending meetings by an organization called Young Life. For me, it was all about the friends and the fun, with a weekly message about Jesus I half-listened to. Fast-forward just a few months, and my dad passed away. I was only sixteen years old. God planting that organization in my life just before those dark, cold days of grief was instrumental in my salvation. It also led to years of transforming “misery into ministry” as I loved other people through their own losses.

Easter

The patterns God uses in the Bible are always good ones for us to look for in our own lives. No larger does this loom than in the days that lead up to Easter. I can’t imagine having all those incredible moments with Jesus only to watch him hang on a cross and, seemingly, spend forever in a dark, cold tomb. But there were things going on in those days the disciples could not see, just as there are in our lives today. They eventually led to the most glorious gift ever to follow a hard time: the risen Savior.

Again, I’m not trying to over-spiritualize the natural, seasonal process of life. But I also know this message is going to land squarely in the lap of someone who is (or soon will be) in the middle of a dark, hard season. If you are that person, I hope this brings you the great comfort that we serve a God who does not waste. He has planted in you and will continue to provide whatever you need to come out stronger, healthier, and flourishing on the other side.

I love how God uses his creation to teach us about himself. Thank you, Lord, for a lesson through the Japanese Maple.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:6 ESV)

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Gal. 6:9 ESV)

“He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.’” (Acts 1:7 ESV)

​​“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” (Eccl. 3:7 ESV)

Anne Rulo is an author, speaker, professional counselor, marriage and family therapist and veteran coach’s wife. She and her husband Tim have two children and are passionate about reaching people for Christ and sharing information on coaching, marriage, family, and mental health. Read more from Anne at www.annerulo.com.

Photograph © Charles Postiaux, used with permission