The One Thing You Need to Know to Flourish Right Where You Are

It is readily apparent that near-endless numbers of plants exist, and they all have slightly different requirements for optimum growth.

• Cantaloupe produces the best fruit when sowed in sandy soil.
• Woodland wildflowers thrive in the shade.
• Apple trees need well-drained soil.
• Cattails flourish in moist environments.

It would be silly to plant a sedge in a desert. And putting tomato plants in the middle of a forest is asking for reduced yields.

Proper Conditions

For plant life, proper growing conditions produce abundant fruit.

In our human logic, we tend to think the same is true for us. We believe we need certain conditions to blossom and bear fruit and hesitate to trust we can grow without them. 

We  think if we find just the right guy or land just the right job or make just the right amount of money, then we can thrive. 

We feel we need the ideal conditions to bloom.

So we wait and plan and scheme and orchestrate and arrange. How much sweat equity do we put in in our attempts to get things just so?

Well I have a hard truth to share:

There will never be the perfect guy,

the dream job,

enough money,

or the ideal conditions.

I’m sorry to have to break it to you, but it’s true. I know because I’ve been the schemer and the planner. I’ve tried pursuing these things. It hasn’t allowed me to thrive.

If anything, the pursuit of the perfect conditions has stunted my growth.

The pursuit of the perfect conditions has stunted my growth. Share on X

Because unlike plants, flourishing for us has little to do with our circumstances. What matters is if we believe in God to make our less-than-ideal conditions ideal for our growth.  

How To Flourish Right Where You Are

We blossom when we are willing to embrace the growing conditions we find ourselves in and trust God to provide everything else we need.

We blossom when we embrace the growing conditions we find ourselves in and trust God for the rest. Share on X

Like Corrie ten Boom in the squalid, horror-filled environment of Ravensbrück concentration camp, who risked her life to share the hope of Jesus Christ with the other prisoners. 

Or Rev. Richard Wurmbrand who formed an underground ministry during Christian persecution in communist Romania and kept on ministering during his 8-1/2-year incarceration and torture by communist authorities.

Or the Apostle Paul who continued to preach the hope of the Gospel while threatened, imprisoned, beaten, ridiculed, and near-death. 

These individuals found themselves in deplorable, terrifying situations, yet they refused to sit back and simply wait for their circumstances to improve. They embraced the little they had and trusted God to provide whatever else they needed to bear fruit.  

God will always provide what is needed.

No More Excuses

So why do we hold back? Why do we keep coming up with excuses?

When I have more time. When my marriage is stronger. When my health is better. When our finances are stable. 

Everything may not be perfect, but right now is the perfect timing for God. Step out in faith and watch Him respond with just the right nourishment for optimum growth.

We flourish not when we are where we want to be; we flourish when we trust that our bountiful God is with us wherever we are.

We flourish not when we are where we want to be, but when we trust that our bountiful God is with us wherever we are. Share on X

And as we begin to bloom where we are planted, we will give evidence to the majesty of the God we serve.

What greater blessing is there than that!

But I am like an olive tree
    flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love
    for ever and ever. 
⁹ For what you have done I will always praise you
    in the presence of your faithful people.
And I will hope in your name,
    for your name is good. Psalm 52:8-9

Reflections: What is preventing you from trusting God to provide all you need to bloom right now, right where you are? What’s a first step you can make in faith? 

I’m thrilled to link up with Suzie Eller for #livefree Thursday and this week’s prompt, “bloom.” I love these special linkups. They provide an abundance of great inspiration and encouragement all in one place. Click on the images below to check them out.