Beautiful Garden
On a cold snowy day in the Rocky Mountains it is fun to think of this story about a garden:
My friend tells the story that she had a beautiful garden and the way that it came to being was that she dug a deep, deep hole and threw all of the junk from her past into it. She then covered it with pebbles and rocks and then to be sure it would not surface, she poured cement over it all. Then she began to prepare the area by placing soil, compost and other good things in the hole before planting the healthy array of plants that would become her lovely garden. All was well and the garden did begin growing and was a sight to behold.
There was only one problem; the past that had not been dealt with would not stay buried. It pushed its way through the rock and even the cement and then began to wreck the garden that had been so carefully planted. What my friend thought was gone forever, was not. It’s reappearing does not mean that the garden will not be beautiful again, in fact, it will be more beautiful than ever, with the debris below it gone, not just buried.
My friend must deal with her past, just as each of us must deal with ours. Our past may include hurts, disappointment, heartache, abuse or other painful memories of things you have done or others have done to you, but when we choose to reveal these things to others instead of hiding them from those who love us and allow to them minister to us through the pain, the healing can begin, continue and finally be gone.
My friend, what have you buried that you need to dispose of properly? Who can you trust as a place of refuge with your pain? Where will you go for help with your healing? God is the ultimate restorer; He can bring beauty from the ashes in you life. Will you let Him begin today?
Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
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