“Hey, Angela! There’s a petunia growing out of the bricks on your front porch,” my brother-in-law shouted as he was leaving my home. I was in the kitchen finishing up the last dishes from Easter celebrations. A petunia? How strange, I thought, as I loaded the last glass in the dishwasher. Why is a Petunia growing out of my front porch’s brick and why have I not noticed before? Thinking it was a weed, I quickly dismissed the thought.
The next morning, I rushed around anticipating a day full of errands. As I grabbed my keys and stepped out the front door, my eyes caught sight of a small, snow-white petunia. It shot up out of a crevice from a brick on my porch. My brother-in-law was right! She survived with no soil, no water and very little sunlight.
Fascinating!
Thoughts of the old, familiar saying I’ve quoted so many times, “Bloom where you are planted” came rushing back. I suddenly recalled difficult trials, hard places, and many moments of my often-blurred perception on life. My parents’ divorce, miscarriages, moves to plant churches and losing a sister, flooded my thoughts. Even in the most cumbersome circumstances of life and those, “I don’t fit well here,” moments, God is able to bring beauty out of the struggles. It may be uncomfortable, even unfavorable, but the Father has a plan and a purpose so much greater for us.
What happens when we are hard-pressed on every side, perplexed and even struck down? Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 that we will experience some difficult situations in this world.
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed, we are perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…”
There are four “nots” that are actually in our favor.
I will NOT be crushed.
I will NOT despair.
I NOT be abandoned.
I will NOT be destroyed.
This tiny Petunia could’ve been struck down by some hurried feet or destroyed by a windy thunderstorm. Apparently, the Father had other plans for this young, fresh plant. One of those plans was a new reminder. Despite the toughest circumstances when there is no spiritual nourishment, the season is dry and parched, He has a plan. A plan that causes new growth and wonder in the most unexpected time and season. A plan that shows forth the beauty of His handiwork. A plan that I will be victorious and not despairing no matter what trials and pain show up.
Paul states that, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that is the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” This treasure is the greatness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the glory of God made obvious through the gospel. We are frail like earthen vessels. When I reflect on what God chose to put His light and glory into, earthen vessels and clay pots, I am amazed.
In the ancient world clay pots were not very durable and basically useless if broken. They were inexpensive and of little value. Yet, God chose to put His treasure, His light and glory, in such weak vessels(everyday dishes) and not in the fine china. Why? So, it is evident to all that the work is done by the power of God, and not the power of the vessel. Risky vessels chipped and cracked beautifully show forth the glory of God.
Who could imagine that the tiniest, white petunia showing up on my front porch had such a large message to share of a loving, gracious heavenly Father who desires to use us in all of our hard places. A Father who longs to reveal beauty in the most difficult and hard-pressed seasons of life. Seasons that surprisingly appear on our front porch reminding us we can bring glory to Him no matter what happens.
AngelaNorman.Org 