Growth In Dark Places

Those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy.

Psalm 126:5

Pause

Georgia Shaffer was diagnosed with a recurrence of breast cancer at age thirty-eight. “There was no insulating shock, no numbness of disbelief,” she says. “Fear was the only emotion I felt.” She went into remission after aggressive chemotherapy, radiation, and a bone marrow transplant. But because she was too weak to return to work, she lost her job. Then she went through a divorce.

Georgia lost hope. She couldn’t imagine her life ever improving. For many days, she sat on the steps outside her kitchen, crying and staring at her little garden. One morning her young son planted a few seeds. Over the next few days and weeks, Georgia watched as seedlings popped their heads through the dark soil and developed into strong, fruitful plants. The process restored her hope.

Although she was still in a dark place like a seed in the soil, she knew she wouldn’t stay there forever. Healing would come, but it would be a process needing time. She would grow stronger with God’s help and someday be filled with joy again.

Ponder

How does the word picture of a seed’s growth resonate with you?

Pray

Lord, I trust you to give me everything needed to grow, blossom, and bear fruit.