GRACE CHATTER

Happy New Yearrrrr! No? Ok, Ok, it’s me again, and you know what time it is… grab your tea right now! How have you been? I hope life’s treating you well. I hope you’re learning to trust in God, living in the overflow. If not, I hope today’s the day you let Him lead your life.

I know what you’re thinking: girl, where have you been? I’m glad you asked—doing nothing, just being stubborn. I know I’m not the only one; I know it’s the enemy trying to mess with me. Sometimes I get in this place where I’m hearing so much for everyone else, but the enemy tries to make me feel distant. I know it sounds silly. I’ve seen God move for others in things He’s shown me through dreams and prayers, and it’s awe-inspiring. I truly believe God’s training me to have faith in the dark, to believe He’s working when I can’t see. Just now, I came across Psalm 131, and it hit me so deeply, especially verse 2, but here’s the whole thing:

“O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.” – Psalm 131

God’s been reminding me of something He put on my heart back in St. Louis: gardening. Yes, gardening! And listen, delayed obedience is still disobedience. I can only imagine how much fruit we’d have by now if I’d started then. But here’s the thing—I had a potato that started to sprout, and each day I’d say, “I’m gonna plant it.” Finally, I did the research for planting in Atlanta’s fall and got the soil, manure, and grow bags. I figured I’d just start.

After I planted it, little green shoots started pushing through the soil. The instructions said to cover them back up, so day after day, I’d do just that. Each time I’d peek, there it was again, pushing through, and I’d cover it back up with soil. This went on until those green pushes reached the top of the bag.

God used this plant to reveal something so big to me. I was so anxious, wondering, When will I see fruit? And God reminded me, “When the leaves die you will know it’s time to harvest.” That shut me up quick! My whole perspective changed. Now, when I go to water it, I lift my hands and thank God because He gets the increase.

Through this, I started understanding more about the seed and watering. The growth happens out of sight, deep in the dark soil, where God is at work. As I watered each day, that seed was getting what it needed, building unseen roots. Weekly, I’d add more dirt so I wouldn’t think it was ready too soon. That added dirt allowed God to keep doing His thing in the hidden places. When the time’s right, I’ll know—the plant will naturally wither, and that’s when the fruit’s ready.

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” – 1 Corinthians 3:6-9

Y’all, I almost ran around the house because what?! The plant will take 60-90 days, but I’ll know it’s ready when the green leaves start to turn brown. God showed me that when we sow and water, He’ll get the increase out of our lives, even when we’re in these hard, hidden seasons. Sometimes we don’t see what’s happening, and we get anxious or discouraged, but the longer we’re in it, the stronger our roots grow.

For so long, I was dreading the dirt, the lessons, the tests. But God! He is able to complete what He’s started in us. And when it’s time to harvest, we’ll be so dead to our flesh that the fruit will feel like a bonus to what God did in the season of rooting.

This journey hasn’t been easy—y’all, I’ve had deer eat my leaves! But that doesn’t stop what God is doing in the soil. The harvest will still be plentiful despite the setbacks. Each day, God keeps revealing His truth as I nurture this little garden. I encourage you to shift your perspective on the season you’re in. Yes, it’s dark. Yes, it’s dirty. Yes, it hurts and stretches you thin… but God is working. Trust the potter, and you’ll come out just as He planned.

I hope you reflect on God’s love through His Som Jesus and how strategic He is, even in our rough seasons. I love you all and pray this blesses you deeply. Blessings to every reader.