Sometimes when you’re in a dark place, you think you’ve been buried – but you’ve actually been planted.
I love this idea because quite frankly, I’m an optimist and I chose to think that while I am currently living in darkness and confusion, I am not destined to exist here forever but rather let this experience transform me into a better version of myself.
Buried: dig a hole
Planted: dig a hole
Buried: An object is put in the hole
Planted: An object is put in the hole.
Buried: The object is covered up with dirt
Planted: The object is covered up with dirt
Buried: The object is surrounded by darkness and left to rot & decay (no zombies in my story, thank you very much)
Planted: The object is surrounded by darkness, then fertilized, watered, and is nurtured by its environment and transformed into something completely unlike its former self
When you think about a seed – it literally has one job – to go into the ground.
It is then covered in dirt, watered nonstop, and then grows into something incredible!
The thing is though – no one explains the process to that precious little seed (yes, I know it’s a seed – just go with it). The seed just endures being placed in the dirt – nonstop darkness – not knowing what is happening or that a transformation is occurring. The seed doesn’t know that it will on day develop into a beautiful tree or flower. Its magical.
Thats US!
We are in darkness. But friends we haven’t been buried. We’ve been planted.
We have been placed in somewhere we don’t want to be and with no awareness about if/when/how we are going to be rescued from the darkness! And it’s frustrating!
I get really impatient – often! And question God if I am ever getting out of here. Will I see sunlight again?
There is only ONE thing I know to answer this question: God doesn’t work on our schedule. He works on His. Only our loving Father knows when we’ve been in the ground long enough to change us into who we are ultimately meant to be.
I know sometimes life can feel like one giant dark hole that you will never be able to escape. I get it. It’s really hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that something wonderful can come from something horrible. But it is so often the case, isn’t it?
We simply cannot discount the fact that while we might feel like we’re buried, we might indeed be planted instead!
You might be in the dark, my friend. I have been there. Who am I kidding – I am still there in many ways. But I have chosen to trust that this time spent in the “darkness” is creating a different version of me that wouldn’t have existed if I hadn’t been buried. And this person I am becoming is better than who I was before I was planted.
At the end of the day, we can choose to think that we’ve been buried or that we’ve been planted. The difference is – one comes with hope and the other comes with despair.
I chose hope. I chose faith. I chose to believe that God knows what he’s doing and while it might seem impossible to turn this seed into a blossoming flower, I know He is capable.
My prayer for you is that you consider your surroundings, as dark & perhaps hopeless as they may seem, and reconsider your circumstances. Perhaps this period is one of nurturing, watering, and waiting … to ultimately blossom. God loves you and he wants the best for you and while it might not seem like it in the moment, I promise, you will bloom – if you keep your heart open and your eyes on the cross.
XO
Tay
