Wednesdays Word: BLOOM

I was almost home, and was looking forward to the evening ahead with my family. As I drove, I watched as a pickup slowed down, and then stopped at the stop sign at the upcoming crossroad. And then, life changed. The pickup pulled out right when I was entering the intersection. Within seconds, my minivan smashed into the side of it, pushed him out into a field, and sent me into the air, before landing nose down in a ditch. 

The next 18 months held a great deal of physical, as well as emotional pain. Shoulder surgeries, doctor appointments, physical therapy, fear, anxiety, and time off work were among some of the many challenges. 

I was reminded of that accident this weekend when I spotted this flower in my driveway. It was growing among the stones, several feet from the black moist dirt that the other flowers were enjoying. And I thought of the popular saying, “BLOOM where you’re planted”. 

There are many times in our lives, when we find ourselves in situations when life has taken an unexpected turn. When life has dished out some challenges for which we hadn’t planned? When we are forced to BLOOM in some places that are anything but comfortable. Anything, but stable. Anything, but predictable. Places that are instead, like my car accident, unplanned and painful. Shaking us to our core. 

Perhaps it’s a health diagnosis. A job loss. The death of someone we love. Unpaid bills. Relationship struggles. Every person has those situations; the ones where we are the flower, stuck in the middle of the driveway, surrounded by stones, crusty ground sucking the life out of us. And yet, God can give us the ability to still BLOOM. Like this little flower, we can reach for the sun, allowing Him to give us the sunshine we need for strength. We can dig into the ground, allowing Him to nourish us with all we need to create roots that will sustain us. And when we still feel too weary to stand, we can be showered with the reminder that His grace is sufficient, His power is made perfect in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:8-9) With that knowledge, regardless of where we are planted, we absolutely…can BLOOM through any unexpected circumstances.

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:3-4

Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm 27:14

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Genesis 50:20 in the story of Joseph) 

Misty Cramer is an author and speaker who enjoys walking alongside others in this journey we call life. Her deisre is to encourage others, as she shares the hope Jesus provides in the midst of life's darkest challenges, as well as it's brightest triumphs. If you would like to receive “Wednesday’s Word”, as well as other encouragement, you can subscribe to her website, https://mailchi.mp/7844a4ba7f8b/welcome and follow her on Instagram @mistydawncramer and Facebook, Misty Cramer, Author & Speaker. She would love to connect with you!  

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