Why is it so hard to make plants grow?
"Why aren't some of them growing?" I asked in frustration.
The past month my boyfriend and I have been trying to grow a garden and starting with some seeds: lettuce, tomato, squash, pepper, carrot, and sunflowers. We have been devout in watering our plants, giving them sunshine yet protecting them from the cold, and giving them good soil. We followed the instructions on the seed box kits for each plant individually. And yet the tomato and lettuce plants are the only ones really growing well. Why won't the other plants grow? They are stagnantly sitting in the soil even though I believe they have been given the right resources to flourish.
Which makes me think about my relationship with God.
Am I growing?
Are you growing?
How do we grow spiritually? What is it that causes growth within, and why is it that sometimes spiritual growth happens to some individuals while others seem indifferent to the working of God in their life?
I recommend reading Steps to Christ particularly the chapter talking about "Growing up into Christ." We can't cause ourselves to grow and flourish fruit on our own. Spiritual growth and change within us isn't something we as humans can ever produce by hard work or diligence. Only God's spirit can do this work in us when we are connected to Him. But we can grow by learning to abide and commune with God daily, hour by hour.
John 15: 1-5 says "I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine and you are the branches . If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." And in verse 9 it says "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you, now remain in my love."
God loves us and gives us what we need to grow if we have faith in him. In Luke 12:27 it says "Consider the lilies how they grow, they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith."
God wants to grow us into something beautiful that can be used by Him. As he helps the lilies grow and equips them with what they need, he will do the same for us if we trust in Him and spend time with Him. But if we are not listening to Him, if we do not read his word, if we do not abide in Him, then we can't grow.
Isaiah 59:2 says "But your iniquities have separated you from God; your sins have hidden his face from you so that he will not hear." Sin separates us from growth because it separates us from God's presence. We can't abide in His presence if we are sinning. So we have to ask God to reveal the sins we may be doing and ask for forgiveness. (Psalm 139: 23,24.) Search us Oh God and know our hearts and secret sins and guide us in Your ways.
Then friends, we have to spend time with God. We have to listen to Him. Sometimes God speaks to us in a small voice, we have to turn off the distractions and loudness around us so we can hear. God wants to give us the light and sunshine we need to grow (Isaiah 60:19). He gives us the water we need to grow (Isaiah 60:19). And he gives us the nourishment we need to grow (John 6:33). He gives us everything we need if we seek His presence and ask Him to help us grow in Him.
Johne is their “everlasting light,” “a sun and shield
What these gifts of nature are to animal and plant, such is Christ to those who trust in Him. What these gifts of nature are to animal and plant, such is Christ to those who trust in Him. He is their “everlasting light,” “a sun and shield.”Isaiah 60:19;Psalm 84:11. He shall be as “the dew unto Israel.” “He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass.”Hosea 14:5;Psalm 72:6. He is the living water, “the Bread of God ... which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.”John 6:33.He is their “everlasting light,” “a sun and shield.”Isaiah 60:19;Psalm 84:11. He shall be as “the dew unto Israel.” “He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass.”Hosea 14:5;Psalm 72:6. He is the living water, “the Bread of God ... which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.”John 6:33.