Everyday Miracles and Perseverance
Have you ever seen an “everyday miracle?”
I believe we will find “everyday miracles” around us if we just open our eyes to see them. God is so amazing and when I slow down long enough to notice, I find little surprises all around me! For example, there is a miracle sprouting up in my driveway.
Can you believe this beautiful petunia? Yes, it is growing in the middle of the asphalt! Never planted…never watered or cared for…but still growing and blooming and vibrant! This flower growing in my driveway looks better than some of my potted ones planted in fertilized, beautiful, nutrient rich soil!
This petunia teaches me a lesson in perseverance. When I first saw it, I immediately thought about Romans 5:4 :
“…we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.” NIV
…and James 1:4 :
” Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
This little seed, wherever it had come from, had persevered through the rock, the lack of rain, and even the lack of nurturing.
Even through trials, hope perseveres!
I believe God has been teaching me lessons on perseverance this summer. This pretty petunia was the second lesson. Earlier, I had an experience with a very persistent wasp! He kept building a nest in the corner of our garage, near the garage door. Every day I would shoo him away and knock down the nest. Some days this occurred several times throughout the day. I even sprayed bug repellent in the corner, thinking that would keep him away. Desperate, I saturated the corner with “Awesome”, a stain remover/cleaner that always removed all my pesky, persistent STAINS in clothing and carpets! He would fly away and I was sure my problem had disappeared until I came outside, and there would be the wasp, building a new nest as if nothing had happened!
I have often pondered these verses from Romans and James this summer, thinking about the wasp and the petunia.
A few weeks ago, I had a much needed spiritual renewal at Family Camp. You can read about that here. I had been so dry and weary upon going. The theme was “Restored” and God did exactly that! I came back exhilarated and ready to recommit my life, my time, my SELF to the Lord again!
….and then life happens.
I again allowed my schedule to get busy. How convenient it became to push God to the “back burner” and do all the things that just HAD to be done! Instead of getting up and filling up on Him first thing, I again allowed all of life’s distractions to pull me away. Each morning, I was off and running, checking emails, making calls, and doing “stuff.”
As I thought about how “RESTORED” I had been just a few weeks ago, God brought Matthew 7:7 to mind. “Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking (reverently) and the door will be opened.” AMP
I need to keep seeking God, keep pursuing this relationship with Him….I need to have perseverance in making Him the most important thing in my life. Just because I “reconnected” with God at Family Camp, I can’t slide back into my old habits. I desire to passionately seek Him…..intimately pursue Him…and keep seeking and keep pursuing….and keep seeking…and pursuing….
And, isn’t God so amazing to put “everyday miracles” in our lives to remind us of these simple truths?
Persevering with you,
Tracy
You are right Tracy; we often let the day-to-day stuff get in the way to get quiet time with Him who can sustain us.
Loved this post,glad I dropped by tonight 🙂 Lxx
I have to say that plants are brilliant little things, I threw a load of old daffodil bulbs on a heap of rubble and soil and they actually sprouted. Plants and flowers are miricles.