This beautiful post was originally published by Stephanie Bryant in 2010 and we thought it would be perfect to share this weekend, as spring calls so many of us outside. Whether you’re spending the weekend planting, celebrating, remembering, or resting, we pray these words would encourage you. And if you think of Stephanie today, would you pray for her family as they enter a new season of their own, getting everything ready to sell their home?
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I feel closer to God, hands in tilled soil, dirt under fingernails, breeze on my face, sun warmth on my back. This is where I came from.
Born in a garden. One word away from dirt. My soul knows, peeking into the past, a glimpse into His character.
I walk by the vines, grapes will appear soon. Parallels to Red Word stories could easily come to mind.
This morning, I keep walking. My mind on my list of need-to’s, have-to’s, hoping to be clear soon.
Thoughts of the Creation Day creep in. Walking in the cool of the day with Him.
What would that be like?
Is it like this day?
Growing. The plants are growing. God’s mercies in the tender leaves and dark mud.
It all started in the garden. God likes to plant and grow things. Squash. Spinach. Me.
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His tools look different than mine. As image-bearer, I’m glad to partake. Focused on weed pulling, a rhythm occurs. Shoulders come down, I start to breathe for the first time this week.
Thought appears — to share this bounty with neighbors. Spinach is ready and more than enough for three households. Making a first pass to clear weeds, I feel proud. Task completed. Harvest time.
I squat, low to the ground. I breathe living air on edible leaves.
Near — the only way to harvest fruit. Cupped in my hands, I pluck a small crop. Gentle.
Prayerful, God be my Soul Gardner.
Then, a large weed, gone unnoticed, camouflaged by the fruit — appears. My eyes had missed this intruder the first pass. My sight isn’t always true.
The fruit no longer hid the weed. I pause in awe. My life is the same. Holy Spirit-produced fruit in me but not perfection yet. Weeding, pruning, and fruit harvesting — never one without the others.
No more choking out growth, I extract the intruder. Revelation to my mind.
Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the Gardener . . . He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you . . . Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing . . . My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to My Father.” {John 15:1-8}
God is close, my Soul Gardener, pruning and weeding, especially when I’m producing fruit.
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Bev @ Walking Well With God says
“Near, the only way to harvest fruit…gentle”, this is absolutely beautiful! I can just envision God as my soul gardener having to draw near to me to gently prune and remove the weeds. As a sister-gardener, I know this is not something you can do from a distance. How comforting to know that God’s digs in, gets His hands dirty too, and breathes His breath of life on me as He transforms me into the image of His Son.
Elizabeth Fisher says
I also have my best meditation and prayer times in my garden. The better it looks, the closer I am feeling to God.
Veronica says
Hi Stephanie, I love this truth, “God as our Soul Gardener,” apart from Him we can do nothing. Praying for you and your family as you prepare to sell your home. A new and exciting season for your family.
Camille says
This speaks to me so much as I have been going through a rough and long season of growth and pruning if you will.. This is very encouraging to imagine God is there carefully guiding my healing.. Thanks for your insight 🙂 you make me want to become a gardener!
Camille
Beth Williams says
Camille,
Prayers for healing, peace and contentment as you go through this season or trial. Trials are God’s way of pruning us and bringing us closer to Him. I, too am in a season/trial and feel the pruning and growth. May God bless you and your family!
Blessings 🙂
Sarah R. Schulz says
This is beautiful. My father gardens, and yet it took this post to reveal something new to me:
I always thought of pruning, in the spiritual sense, as God cutting away what was unnecessary in me, the bad stuff, the mistaken stuff, so that I would be perfect.
Perfect and small and stagnant.
But of course that isn’t it at all. Pruning is taking away some things only in order to make room for fruit and to make room for growth–more and more and more, every day, sprouting and blossoming and rising up under the sun.
Thank you for this.
Kathy says
So true, that being in the garden can bring thoughts of our Master Gardener who knows just when to prune, to pick the produce and then weed. I’ve always had an affinity to growing things, and I think the Lord has the same attitude towards the growth in my spirit…to be transformed to the image of His Son. Thank you for these thoughts that bring me inspiration and encouragement to keep weeding that Christ may grow and make His home in my heart.
Penny says
So beautiful…..
There is something so special about working in the garden that draws you even closer to God. To nurture and be a part of his creation is truly a blessing.
Stephanie,
All the very best of wishes to you and your family and prayers for your move.
Beth Williams says
Stephanie,
Prayers for a smooth transition and quick selling of your house!
Reading this post I feel that God is pruning me now. I have had a rough year last year with work stresses and aging parent medical issues. Grateful that God thinks enough of me to prune and refine me to bring out the best in me even though I cringe during this trial!
Blessings 🙂