Several years ago, I was given an orchid, and then about six months later, I purchased another orchid myself. I have always loved the delicacy and fragility of the blossoms – so I had two of these amazing plants myself to gaze upon and enjoy. The blossoms seemed to stay on forever, but as was inevitable, they eventually faded, shriveled and dropped off the stalk.
Since the succulent-like leaves appeared healthy, I decided to see if I could get the orchids to bloom again. I mean, how hard could it be?
I found out it was quite hard. I watered them according to instructions – 4 ice cubes once a week. I assumed they probably wouldn’t bloom for at least a year, so I was patient, and decided to leave them in a spare bedroom that got the equivalent of normal daylight – light in the day, and dark at night, with no unnatural light in the room. I waited patiently for a flower stalk…….nothing.
Oh well, maybe it takes a while longer when they aren’t in a greenhouse – I need to be patient, right? So, I waited another year……nothing. Another year.…..nothing!
By this time, I was getting a little bit more impatient. I started reading up on getting an orchid to bloom, and it seemed I was doing everything right….but still no blooms.
After about four years of this, I was tired of looking at my orchid’s leaves and crazy aerial roots, and decided I had had enough. When I got the chance, I was going to throw them out – they weren’t EVER going to bloom.
And then it happened. I went into the room one day, and low and behold, BOTH plants had flower stalks! One stalk was a good 12” long, the other about 4”, and both have buds of the coming flower blossoms! Out of nowhere, they are going to bloom!
I often find myself asking the same questions about myself as a child of God that I asked about the orchids – will I EVER bloom? Will I ever be this dynamic Christian who just has this radiant God-like spiritual beauty, a beauty that clearly looks like Jesus? It often seems like nothing changes. I yearn to have that Corrie Ten Boom or Ruth Bell Graham kind of godly presence……but I still seem to look the same. Same old roots…..same old leaves, and no blooms.
But I wonder – is God telling me through these orchids, “Patience daughter. I’m watering you…..I’m feeding you with My Word, nourishing you through prayer, and surrounding you with believers who are part of your growing process. Just have patience – you will bloom. Don’t ever doubt that – you will bloom. Not only will you bloom, but you ARE blooming!”
You too are blooming and you will continue to bloom! God is growing you, feeding you, and sometimes maybe even “repotting” you and pruning you – all so you will put forth beautiful, amazing blooms. Isaiah 55:10-11 is God’s promise of this:
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My Word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
God WILL succeed in bringing us to bloom. That is His purpose for us, and God’s will is always done. And you know what? I bet some of those amazing blossoms of Him are showing in you ……right……now!
