They are whimsical, delightful, heavenly creations that woo my heart and make it skip a beat.
God’s exquisite eye for detail is put on display with the inherent beauty of a flower.
In fact, I believe to behold a flower is to see a mirror of God’s glory - His loveliness, grandeur, and splendor all rolled into one.
My late grandmother was an avid gardener, and as a child I would play in the yard as she planted. Her garden was her sanctuary, a place where she communed with God. It brought her great solace and joy.
The most beautiful flowers came from her garden - big fluffy violet and white hydrangeas, marigolds the color of fire, and tulips every shade of the rainbow. The sights and smells of this oasis were out of this world. I knew spring was on the horizon as soon as a tiny bud peaked from the soil and the aroma of new blossoms lingered in the air.
I will forever cherish those moments of being with my grandma in her garden. Now that I’m older, I understand why her quiet time with God was in this abode. There was such stillness in the atmosphere that you knew God’s presence was in your midst and that He was listening to your prayers.
I know it may be a little odd to be talking about flowers in the middle of January - especially in New York where our winters are normally filled with barren trees, freezing weather, and of course lots and lots of snow.
Everything appears to be dead and lifeless.
No flowers, no color, nothing.
Doesn’t it feel like winter when we are waiting for God to answer our prayers? The promises that have been spoken over our lives seem like a distant, fleeting memory. We question if all the prayers and tears that we have laid before Him are in vain. The winter of our souls can give us the illusion that He is not listening, and that our prayers aren’t reaching His ears, but that is just what it is – an illusion.
Our prayers are not in vain, but they go right to the throne room of God, straight to His ears:
“In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ears.” (Psalm 18:6 NIV)
Our prayers are like seeds, watered by our tears. They go deep down into the soil until it’s the appointed time for the flowers to be revealed - to be in full bloom. God loves to confirm His word with signs and wonders, and His fingerprints are all over our longings, unanswered prayers, and seeds sown. God’s Word will never, ever return back to us void:
“For as [surely as] the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring forth, so [surely] the Lord God will cause rightness and justice and praise to spring forth before all the nations…” (Isaiah 61:11 AMP)
Get alone with God.
Tell Him what’s on your heart.
Release your burdens to Him.
Water some prayers with your tears.
Soak in His Presence.
Bask in His lavish love.
It may be winter in your life (both spiritually and even literally). However, I encourage you to open your eyes of faith and to see in your spirit the flowers that are about to bloom. Continue to be persistent in your prayers and know that your Heavenly Daddy is Faithful to perform the work in your life that you are believing Him to do.
You are about to reap big beautiful blooms.
“Arise, My dearest! Hurry, My darling, come along with Me!
I have come as you have asked, to draw you to my heart and lead you out!
For now is the time My beautiful one.
The season has now changed,
The bondage of your barren winter has ended and the season of hiding is over and gone.
The rains have soaked the earth, and left it bright with blossoming flowers…”
(Song of Songs 2:11-12a, The Passion Translation)