While walking through the woods, I noticed the leaves, branches and twigs all intertwined and overgrown.
It struck me that in all the apparent unkempt appearance, it was still beautiful. Very beautiful, in fact. In all my wildest efforts, I could not design a garden or space to look like that. Neat rows, yes. Plants that compliment each other, yes. But, wild over-grown hodge-podge? Nope.
Yet it was beautiful. Far more beautiful that anything I could create and design.
Kind of reminds me of my life. The allusion of control causes me to analyze every branch, leaf or bud that isn’t growing just where I think it should. I’m busy pruning and clipping instead of just being still and letting the Master Gardener unfold something beautiful. Now, I’m not talking about sin, we most certainly need to prune and cut sin out of our lives. Rather, I’m referring to those things we envision looking a certain way and so we put great effort into ensuring they do. But,when I release that control, it begins to take a shape I never imagined or even desired. It is only when I trust, can God truly work His design.
As I emerged from the woods, the contrast caused a sharp inhale of cool air. The development houses boasted of immaculately trimmed bushes, straight lines in the lawns, well thought-out garden bed designs. Beautiful, right? That’s how I like my life to be too. Predictable. Organized. Controlled.
But, in that perceived perfection, I miss the beauty that only comes when I take my hands off and allow life to flow the way the Creator intends it to.
Jer. 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
This analogy is so incredible! And so true! I think of how a wise woman builds up her house and a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands… how much of the scheming and labor and controlling we do– how much of that is God’s will? How much is me, trying to do it on my own? I don’t know. But I do know you are so right and (for me!) so timely with the phrase, “But, in that perceived perfection, I miss the beauty that only comes when I take my hands off and allow life to flow the way the Creator intends it to.” Wow. Thanks for a great devotion.