grow.

“So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” {1Corinthians 3:7}

   A couple of years ago I kept having this dream where I was planting a seed, then going to check on it everyday. I’d actually pull it up from the ground, hold it in my hand and observe it from every angle. Then  I’d push it back into the dirt and hope for the best. I’ve planted enough seed to know that this is not the process in which things can grow.

   That season was full of restless nights. I kept replaying narratives that held me captive. Trying desperately to hold onto something familiar. I so desperately desired to flourish, but anxiety kept creeping in and I’d feel compelled to take matters into my own hands. It was exhausting.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that I couldn’t keep going back to the same field, digging up the same seed, and expect a different result. I had to change my approach.  I  wanted to throw a little Miracle Grow on the situation and fast track the progress. The Miracle Worker wanted to develop something far better than that and it was going to take some time. I needed to trust His process.

“Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” {Colossians 2:7}

 I finally decided to stop trying to fix it on my own. Taking a posture of surrender and doing the deep work of releasing my hands was no easy task. But oh how beautiful it was when I began to see the handiwork of the Creator as He caused my roots to go deep and forged a path of freedom for my life. The growth I longed for came to light as I relinquished control, and pressed toward the Light.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” {Ephesians 2:10}

So loosen your grip and let go. God’s got this!