The Rocks of Life...

Warm, moist dirt is like a decadent chocolate to a young plant.  As the sunshine bathes the surface with radiant heat, the leaves of the tender plant drink it in causing its roots to stretch and reach for greater depths in the dark blanket of earth and soil. There is nothing like basking in the warm sunlight!

 Wait.  Where did the sun go? Oh. Those clouds bring another surprise; the liquid drops of nourishment soak through the comfy cover of darkness and bring such refreshment to its thirsty veins.  How the plant wants to reach to greater heights as its roots once again stretch and grow farther and broader!  Who knew that the growth of life could be so invigorating?

 As the root reaches further into the depths, it hits an obstacle.  It doesn’t seem to have the strength to penetrate this barrier nor can it find a crack through.  With determination, the root detours around the rock and finds that its goal to go deeper into the soil can still be attained.  Oh! Those rocks! They can cause such frustration!

 So, in our lives, as we mature and grow, we encounter rocks along the way.  Above the surface there are perils as well when the storms blow and bend our tender hearts.  But, beneath the surface, the rocks seem to be the hindering irritation. They can come in many shapes and sizes.  Often the pebbles of disillusionment confuse us and frustrate us; that which we expected does not fulfill those expectations. Those disappointments are difficult to work around.  The jagged rocks of discouragement can squelch the enthusiasm of growth and melt the inspiration.  Those boulders (well, they seem SO big!) of offenses and dispersions of our character and motives can seem to almost stop us in our tracks.  The pain these rocks cause as the roots push downward and outward could terminate the desire of the new plant to grow.

 Yet, what the plant does not realize until it passes these obstructions in its soil is that those very rocks provide filtration and foundation.  As any good gardener knows, she must put some rocks in the bottom of the planter in order to have a proper filter.  If there is no filtration, the water becomes putrid, bitter, and destructive to the plant. When the floods come, and they do come, the young plant is not inundated with water enough to overpower and topple it.  As the roots by-pass the pebbles and ragged edges, they reach farther around those boulders for better soil and deeper strength.  In fact, the smaller roots attach themselves to those very rocks and find that the same obstacle gives it a firmer foundation to stand taller and stronger.

 Oh! Those rocks of life!  They are not in the soil of our lives to stop us, impede us, or frustrate us.  They are there for strength in learning, maturity in growth, and for filtration when life is over-whelming.  Thank You, All-wise and All-knowing Creator, who provided these rocks as we grow in life. Deuteronomy 8:2 reminded the Israelites that those things were to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments or no. As James reminded New Testament believers in 1:4, But let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Written by Kathy Ashley, author of Vitamins for the Soul from Sword of the Lord.

Simply Settling,