Fall Flowers…A Testament of Mercy and Grace
“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”
Isaiah 61:3
Recently, as I took my morning stroll, I noticed something I had not noticed before. There are flowers that bloom in the fall! When barrenness is so supposed to begin, there was actually new life. Granted, it is Florida and for all intents and purposes weather-wise still summer, but I was astounded by the beauty of so many wild flowers springing up. A few days later I noticed all of the beautiful flowers were gone. What on Earth?! And then I realized that the mowers had come through. Ah, yes! I had noticed the trail was overgrown before. But mostly I noticed the beautiful flowers.
The Lord begin to speak to my heart. Even in the seasons where it seems that the beauty in life is failing, He can bring His own beauty. Even in the overgrown grasses of life, He plants wild flowers. No matter what you or I go through… no matter how sad and despondent it seems… He appoints blessings and beauty in the midst of it. He is that good a Father! Recently, I studied the life and story of Ruth. As Boaz, the kinsman redeemer, told his servants to leave “handfuls on purpose” of grain in the field for the young widow, Jesus the Kinsman redeemer appoints handfuls on purpose for us!
Yes, we will go through thorny places. Desolate places. Dry places. Places where it is hard to see the path, or muster the courage to stay the course. Life gives us ashes, rather than beauty. But I encourage you, dear reader, look for them- the incidents of beauty. The life in the middle of death. The provision in the middle of lack. For where you are, there He is. And where He is, there is life. And life more abundantly!
Thank you Jesus, for your care and nurture in the hard seasons of life. Open my eyes to see the beauty even here. Help us to see your tender mercies in the small things of life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Great reminder of how different seasons can blossom great things in us, if we let it. ?