Jeremiah prayed, “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you” (Jeremiah 32:17 NIV).
All around me were signs of spring, and I knew it was time to plant my dahlia bulbs. It would be a good diversion after the problem-filled, dark winter months. I pulled each bulb from the brown paper bag, searching for the pinkish white growth that was essential for new life. To my disappointment, only a few of the tuberous clumps showed any signs of taking root. I planted the good bulbs and tossed the dried-up, shriveled ones back in the bag.
Weeks of rain and impossible situations for me and my loved ones followed, and I stared out the window at the soggy paper bag sitting outside. “God,” I prayed, “I feel like there’s no hope at all.”
At last one day the rain clouds blew away and the sun shone on that ugly, wet bag. In a burst of solar-inspired energy, I dashed outside to throw it away. When I lifted the bag, the bottom dropped out and the discarded bulbs plopped to the ground. As I leaned over to scoop up the mess, I was amazed at what I saw: sprouting from the withered roots were pinkish white tinges!
As I stared at the signs of life in the bulbs I’d thought were dead, something stirred in my heart as well. I wondered, and even dared to believe, there might also be hope for the other seemingly impossible situations in our lives.
Remind us often, Lord, that we serve a God who even raises the dead! Amen.
Flower Photo: some of our first dahlias of the summer
4 thoughts on “Taking Root”
This is beautiful friend, thank you…I needed this today as I have been blue the last couple days of us not seeing our grandkids in over a year. It’s been hard, but some days I feel really sad. Thank you for this “picture” of hope!! Jesus is my only HOPE! Love you and miss you a lot.
I had not read this yet when I saw you. So sorry you are sad. It was wonderful to see you and together we will continue to hope in Jesus! I love and miss you a lot too!
Dear Daisy, Thank you for such a hopeful message. Really restores mynfaith in unseen work that God is probably doing ( without my intervention or help).
Thank you, Jane! Sometimes I forget!