Let the Gardener In
Jun 24 2023| Papa God & Denae RothI'm sitting in the garden new life is sprouting from the soil but the hue of green that cascades across the ground is unintentional. Weeds. We don't invite them but they come, we try to stop them but they grow back. So we take our stand every morning, hoeing, fighting them so the true beauty can show. Does this battle remind you of anything? It reminds me of the battle of beauty in the landscape of my heart. The hurt that grows uninvited, the bitterness, anger, loneliness, and fear that burst forth unintentionally. They try to choke out the abundant life, shuts us down, and tune everything out. With one bite of the fruit, we realize the darkness that surrounds us and see the weeds that weigh us down, how broken our human hearts are. We are ashamed. So we do what we know best, we hide, we run, we try to escape the fear of reality. Pushing out all sounds and alarms going off in our head in our heads, we smile on the outside and wilt on the inside. The weeds keep growing but we keep ignoring them, there is no time. Life keeps going. We keep plodding. Striving for a breath in the brokenness of our mess. Then the Gardener calls. He invites you into His open arms, His eyes are shining with love. He calls you out to pull you in. He's there to heal your heart, to pull the weeds gently one step at a time, in the secret place, hidden in His love. The Gardener is inviting you. Will you accept? Will you let Him see the weeds that are choking out the beauty of your identity? Will you let Him search you and know your heart? Will you be vulnerable in the garden with just Jesus, no one else? He is safe. He is your portion and your prize. He is the Gardener that grows you to your full potential, nurtures you through the drought, and brings seasons of multiplication. As you weed together you won't discover bare ground, you will see beauty bursting forth. It was always there, your identity, your God-given destiny overgrown by the mess of this world, but it's there. Jesus brings you back to discover the beauty that is growing deep in your heart. You are being called to the garden identity, to be made whole and holy by His love. Not trying to measure up or be someone you're not but discovering your identity intertwined with the heart of the Creator. Don't hold back, don't just plod through life. You were made to thrive. Let the Gardener in.