Your Life as God’s Garden

I love gardening. I really do. I don’t garden as much as I used to as a kid. But, when I get out there with the dirt and the plants and the manual labor, I feel so close to God, it is unbelievable.

As far back as I can remember, God has always met me in my garden. He speaks to me and He reveals insights that just make the time disappear. I was in my garden this morning, and it was no different.

I had promised my kids that I would get the vegetable garden ready for us to plant this weekend. However, I had neglected that garden since my harvest last year, and it was now overgrown with grass. Although most of the grass around my home is only now recovering from the winter, the grass that had made its way into my vegetable garden was thriving from the rich nutrients in the soil.

It took over 2 hours of hard labor for me to dig up all the grass and clean out the garden. I felt every muscle in my body working…working hard. When I had cleared everything out and spread out the beautiful compost I had delivered, I stood back to admire my handiwork.

It was then I heard God saying loud and clear, “Aya, what are the parallels between your life and this garden?” I imagined that if that soil had a voice, it would have loudly protested all the digging and scrapping and raking it had just endured. I can hear it saying, “What’s wrong with the grass? There’s grass over there and I don’t see you bothering it. I actually see you watering it and filling in the bare holes. Why are you doing this to me?”

There may be areas in your life where God is trying to do a new and better thing. However, there have to be changes that occur first. There will be things you may believe are beneficial for you that will have to be removed. Maybe it’s a relationship, or a habit or even your job. It may not make sense to you, but like the soil, you are best served when you submit to what God is doing.

I asked God to show me what He wanted out of my life. What was I feeding even like the soil fed the grass? He showed me my pride, which I sometimes mistake for humility.He showed me my lack of trust in Him in certain areas of my life. He showed me the areas where I am undisciplined. A voice arose in my head, “This isn’t fair. I try so hard to be a good Christian.” And God reminded me of the soil. The soil can do nothing in and of itself. God made the soil. God made the seed. God alone causes the seed to grow. God produces the increase. It is not my works He is after. He wants my love, which should always translate as obedience.

I looked over my beautiful garden that is now ready to receive the vegetable seeds and produce a great harvest and I sighed. I submit, Lord. I submit. You are the master gardener and you are preparing me to produce a great harvest. I submit.