Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.—Ezekiel 47:12 (NIV)

My ten-year-old daughter, Jocelyn, started composting last summer. We don’t really have the yard for it, so she started out small and used the large, foil-lined box her Goldfish snack comes in as her collection bin. Whenever I tried to throw away any refuse from dinner prep, she’d stop me and ask if she could have it: fruit peels, vegetable trimmings, eggshells, even coffee grounds. She cared for that pile of garbage as if it were gold, until it became so. Ultimately, she created a fertilizer, so rich my flowers bloomed with vibrant colors and hearty stems. 

Jesus cares for me like I’m gold too. He collects the garbage of my life—hardships, mistakes, challenges, and stress—and draws forth the good that I’d sooner throw away. Like the leaves of the fruit trees in Ezekiel 47, Jesus can use what I wish I could discard to heal and nurture me. With Jesus, nothing is wasted. That’s why I tend to grow the most from difficult circumstances. Rather than lamenting my refuse, I have to remember to trust in the process and trust in the One who tends to me with loving care. When I do, my life blossoms and I am enriched.

Faith Step: Begin a small box of compost and watch your refuse turn into fertilizer that is rich and life-giving. Thank Jesus that He uses everything to create a rich life for you too.