Grow Where God Has Planted You

For the planners among us this time of isolation and uncertainty is a nightmare. We have so many questions in our mind; what about my holiday in the summer? Will I still be able to move flat in the autumn? What about my job? When can I next see my family? How do I schedule chats with my friends? Or simply, when will life be back to normal, so that I can do the things I need to do? 

But even if you are not a planner, I suspect that the future being a big ‘…’ is unsettling.

Nothing has changed, you never knew the future…

This may seem a ridiculous thing to say because, in one sense, everything has changed, but in another profound way, nothing has changed; you never knew what tomorrow holds.

The Biblical writers remind us of this truth time and again from James [4:13-14]:

‘Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.’

to the writer of Proverbs [27:1]:

‘Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.’

And Jesus’ own words in Matthew 6:34:

‘…do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.’

That’s all well and good but how can we keep from worrying about the future when we are surrounded by news reports that drip-feed worry and uncertainty into our minds?

Well firstly, remember who holds it. Admitting that we are fairly powerless to control the future could be rather depressing, but we know one who does have the future in His hands, and as I discussed last week, He is kind. Secondly, dwell in today.  

Our minds are always looking at ‘next’ and never dwelling in ‘now’

Oswald Chambers was a smart chap…

I recently read an entry in Oswald Chambers’ classic devotional book – My Utmost for His Highest – which gives a useful antidote to worry. Reflecting on Jesus’ famous call not to worry [Matt 6:25-34] Chambers points to the metaphor of flowers that Jesus uses:

‘… “Consider the lilies of the fields” (6:28). They grow where they are planted. Many of us refuse to grow where God has planted us. Therefore, we don’t take root anywhere.’

A planning heart, or a worrying heart is always looking to the future, asking the ‘what if…?’ questions or seeking to organise and manage their way into a place of peace.

The logic works along these lines; the unknown is scary and stressful, so I will cultivate my life to the extent that I minimise ‘unknowns’ and in doing so reduce my stress and worry. I know, because I’ve done it.

Ironically, and paradoxically, this approach always leads to more anxiety and worry. Why? Because we never inhabit today. Our minds are always looking at ‘next’ and never dwelling in ‘now’. It is like a plant on a beautiful sunny day, failing to grow because they are fearful of a cloudy day tomorrow.

Jesus says dwell in today. Notice what He is doing in you now. Grow where you are planted.

God cares much less about where you are going and much more about who you are becoming. 

Rose-tinted glasses…

Failing to not dwell in the present with God is not a 21^st century problem. Oh no. 

In Numbers 11 we find the Israelites in the desert, uncertain about the future, asking the question, ‘when can we leave this limbo in the desert and get to the promised land? – We’re bored!’ Relatable?

What they do in this space is over romanticise the past:

‘The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, "If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost-also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!" - Numbers 11:4-6.

This is priceless. Remember their occupation in Egypt? – Slaves! They did not have free reign of a daily fish and veg buffet, but faced with their current difficulties they over emphasised the goodness of past.

This is so easy to do – remember the good old days – but in reality, we often distort how good they were and edit out the difficulties. That is why the writer of Ecclesiastes warns us:

‘Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions.’ – Ecclesiastes 7:10

If you yearn after the past you will not grow. If you live in the future, you will not grow. God can only grow you where you are planted. And he wants to grow you. He cares much less about where you are going and much more about who you are becoming. Don’t miss what God is doing in you right now.

So, dwell in today, ask one question, and pray one prayer:

“What opportunities do I have to grow where you have planted me today?

“God, grow me where I am planted today.”