It’s like He’s been quietly, calmly holding my hand, like any good Father would, but I’ve been kicking and screaming like an inconsolable child who realizes she’s not going to get what she wants right NOW and not seeing how this amazing Father, who claims Himself to be so full of love and capable to fulfil her every need, could possibly choose to withhold what she wants, RIGHT NOW.
It’s not like I’m asking for anything bad. But this whole journey of waiting and waiting and waiting for direction has been most perplexing and painful, to say the least. Worse still, I haven’t been able to articulate it to anyone besides Cliff, and can’t say very much more here till things take some form. It’s just been buckets of buckets of tears, waiting and waiting till hope slowly trickles away, wondering if they matter at all to Him. It’s amazing how easily doubt and fear and anger creep in, when God doesn’t appear in an extravagant firework display of majesty to meet our prayers RIGHT NOW.
So when I read this story and saw how it pierced me, how it reminded me again of God’s faithfulness even when we don’t see it, I modified it a little and was surprised to see how many people “liked” it and were encouraged by it on Facebook as well. To those of you struggling to hear from God and see Him come through for you, here’s sharing a little story about a fern and a bamboo which I hope will encourage your week ahead.
He is the Good Father. He will never leave you.
Fern and Bamboo
One day a man got fed up with his life and decided to quit.
“I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality, in fact I want to quit my life,” he said.
Then He went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
“God, Can you give me just one good reason not to quit?”
God’s answer surprised him. “Look around”, God said. “Do you see the fern and the bamboo?”
“Yes” the man replied.
Then God continued, “When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds at the same time, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. It is brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
In the second year, the fern grew more vibrant. Again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In the fourth year, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. Still, I would not quit. Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. But in just 6 months, the bamboo rose to over a hundred feet tall.
It had spent the five years growing roots but 6 months to shoot to the sky! Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed not just to survive but to be outstanding amidst its peers.”
God said to Him, “Did you know, my child, that all this time that you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots. I would not quit on the bamboo and I will never quit on you. Don’t compare yourself to others.
The bamboo had a different purpose from the fern. Yet, they both make the forest beautiful. Your time will come and you will rise high! “
Never despair.
Be encouraged, God is our heavenly Gardener,
and He has a divine purpose for each of our lives.
