Bloom Where You’re Planted!

The article, “Bloom Where You’re Planted,” is from women.lifeway.com. Lifeway Women is a “welcoming community of women who love God, love His Word, and are growing together in faith.” It’s good encouragement for all of us.

I cannot count the number of conversations I’ve had with God…in which I tell Him I’ll be better if He changes my circumstances.

If You gave me a bigger house, I would practice hospitality.

If You make my friend less cranky, I’ll love her better.

If You had made me more talented, I would serve in my church.

If You provide me with the funds to go on a missions trip, I’ll tell people about You.

If You give me a new job, I’ll have a better attitude about going to work.

So, when our lives don’t change, we repeat the same cycles we’ve been stuck in for weeks, months, or even years. We bury ourselves under the covers, and continue to beg God for spring.

It’s hard to invest in old relationships, striving for real community among friends, spouses, and relatives.

It’s hard to sit at the same desk day after day, going to the same meetings, riding the elevator with the same people.

It’s hard to make spaghetti for the third time this week because you don’t have an ounce of energy and all you want to do is have a moment of silence and a hot bath.

But just as Paul encouraged the early Corinthian church, following God doesn’t always mean a change of circumstance. In fact, Paul says, “Each person should remain with God in whatever situation he was called” (1 Corinthians 7:24).

Sometimes God is calling you to make a big change in your life; to move to a new city, quit your job, or end a toxic relationship. But other times the only door God opens is the one you’ve been walking through for years, and He’s asking You to trust that He’s keeping the others closed for a reason.

Sometimes you’re just being called to bloom where you’re planted.

And sometimes that’s harder than new doors, big changes, and fresh starts.

Maybe that looks like choosing to stay in a job where you’re a light in a dark place, even if it may seem easier to quit and work in a different environment.

It could mean finding opportunities to serve and share God’s love in your local community and church rather than waiting for special circumstances to arise.

Or maybe it means choosing to work on a tough relationship—whether it be a friend, family member, or spouse—instead of shutting the person out or giving up on it.

So instead of begging God for better soil, more sunlight, or revolutionary fertilizer, let’s watch Him do amazing things by being faithful right where we are.

What about you? Have you seen God work in your life when you’ve stayed where He planted you?

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This Sunday, August 9, we will continue our new series “Unshakable Joy!” with “Bloom Where You’re Planted” (Philippians 1:12-30). Please invite someone to join you at the 10:35am worship service in the building or online for the Live broadcast on either Facebook (Honolulu AG) or our YouTube channel (Honolulu Assembly of God). We Livestream every Sunday to both locations and would love to have you join us!

Reminder: Be sure to check out the online midweek Bible Study that is uploaded every Wednesday afternoon to our website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel. Please pass it along to someone who is in need of encouragement.

Aloha and Aloha ke Akua!