The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. Isaiah 58:11 (NLT)
For years I had dreamed about lush flower gardens, and even filled a notebook with pictures of beautiful flowers and various styles of gardens. Each time I found a new idea online or in a garden magazine, I’d show my husband. I knew gardening was my passion, not his, so I tried to be careful not to pressure him. I never thought my dreams would become reality.
But a few years ago he actually suggested we draw up some ideas for a perennial garden. I was in garden heaven, creating, planning, choosing—and then planting several garden areas. They were not as exquisite as the ones in my idea notebook, but they were beautiful to me.
I soon discovered, however, that what I enjoyed was not gardening, but gardens. Gardening requires maintenance: watering, fertilizing, mulching, and yes, pulling weeds. At times, the work is overwhelming just to keep the garden growing and beautiful. Maintenance was low on my “enjoyable” list. But, oh, the joy of sitting in my garden among the fragrant flowers! It is well worth the work.
The Christian life is sometimes like that. We fall in love with Jesus, with His Word, with becoming more Christlike. Everything looks beautiful. Until the maintenance comes. The discipline of faithfulness challenges us; temptation distracts us; and difficulties threaten to overwhelm us. Growth requires intentionality. To keep the garden of our heart beautiful and well-watered, we must cooperate with Jesus, the Master Gardener. Sometimes, that work costs us time, comfort, pain. But a well-watered, maintained garden—whether a physical one or a spiritual one—will proclaim His beauty. Jesus makes all the work worthwhile.
FAITH STEP: Do you enjoy gardens or gardening? Ask Jesus to make you like a beautiful “well-watered garden.” Cooperate with Him today by including a spiritual discipline such as time in His Word, prayer, or Bible study.
