As spring transitioned to summer, I found myself frequently glancing out my kitchen window making observations about the state of our Crape Myrtle trees. The trees adorn our home, one on each side. After a harsh freeze, I questioned whether or not they would produce the beautiful blossoms that should have appeared in spring. Noticing my neighbor’s flourishing tree, I began to compare ours and consider all the ways ours failed to measure up. I wanted our trees to look abundant, like hers, and considered the extra effort I assumed she invested to ensure the blossoms because her tree obviously had what ours did not — growth.
In many ways, my observations from the natural world revealed so much to me about spiritual realities. I figured our trees were pretty much hopeless as they looked like nothing more than a bunch of bland branches. In winter, the trees in our city were completely frozen and many were destroyed by the weight of ice that completely covered them. While it looked like a winter wonderland, the spooky sound of cracking ice and falling branches reminded me that it was anything but. Assessing the damage, we were grateful to find our trees still standing. We only had one broken branch and although damaged, it remained intact.
Come spring, our trees had lovely green leaves and it surprised me to find that our single broken branch was fruitful. It was lovely to discover that something that seemed dead was full of life under the surface before that life even became evident. Yet I remained discouraged as I waited for flowers to grow. Rather than being grateful for the growth that had occurred, albeit small, I was lamenting the loss of what I had hoped for. I began to grow weary as I waited for flowers to come to the point that I even prayed about the trees.
On a particularly discouraging day of a particularly discouraging week, I found myself expectantly glancing out my kitchen window once again. As I looked up, I saw the first few blossoms growing on our trees. A smile spread across my face and hope surged in my heart as I realized that even nature operates on God’s timeframe. In my own life, I am frequently impatient as I wait to see spiritual growth in myself. Sanctification often feels like one step forward, two steps back (or three if I’m being totally honest) and it can become discouraging to walk in obedience and work toward growth and wonder if/when it will come.
Upon observing spiritual truths embedded in natural realities I realized that broken branches still bear fruit. In the same manner, redeemed sinners are still sanctified even if the process doesn’t look how we might expect. In Philippians 1:6, Paul encouraged the saints in Philippi by saying, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
He was certain that God would finish the work He started in his brothers and sisters and that same God is completing what He started in us. Even when we can’t see, even when we can’t feel it, there is often growth happening under the surface as God works in us by His Spirit to conform us to the image of His Son. The hardships, pain, and trials we endure are things He is using to shape us even if the fruit of these things won’t be immediately seen or experienced.
If you find yourself discouraged by your perceived lack of spiritual growth or beset by sin and weakness, don’t lose heart, friends. Turn to Jesus. Perhaps like my branch, you are broken but a bruised reed He will not break (Isaiah 42:3). There is a day coming where our present sufferings won’t even compare to the glory that will be revealed to us in Jesus (Romans 8:18). Even though waiting can often feel pointless, painful, and perplexing, the reality of eternity with Jesus is certain and not even our sins and shortcomings can hinder or thwart it.
If you find yourself discouraged, don’t look within and don’t look out. Look up and fix your eyes on Jesus. He is the founder and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). He remains faithful even when we are faithless (2 Timothy 2:13) and He is at work in you now to produce something beautiful even if you can’t yet see it (2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16).
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9
