Bloom Where You're Planted

“The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all.” – Mulan, Walt Disney

One of my spiritual mentors is the most gifted preacher I have ever heard. In fact, I would stack him against Billy Graham or any other famous orator, and he would still get my vote.

For more than 40 years, my friend has ministered at the same small church in the same small community. One day, I asked him if he ever wondered why God hadn’t given him a bigger platform for his powerful messages, perhaps in a church three or four times the size of his current congregation.

Softly and sheepishly, he replied, “Yes.” Then, instead of continuing to dwell on the question – or his humble, but honest answer – he went back to ministering faithfully in relative obscurity. I could tell that my friend did not want to give Satan a foothold by appealing to his pride.

Charles Spurgeon, who preached to thousands of parishioners every Sunday and to millions during his many years of ministry, addressed this very subject in detail.

“Believer, if your inheritance is meager, you should be satisfied with your earthly portion; for you may rest assured that it is best for you. Unerring wisdom ordained your lot and selected for you the safest and best condition. When a ship of large tonnage is to be brought up a river that has a large sandbank, if someone should ask, "Why does the captain steer through the deep part of the channel and deviate so much from a straight line?" his answer would be, "Because I could not get my ship into harbor at all if I did not keep to the deep channel."

“In the same way you would run aground and suffer shipwreck if your divine Captain did not steer you into the depths of affliction where waves of trouble follow each other in quick succession. Some plants die if they have too much sunshine. It may be that you are planted where you get only a little, but you are put there by the loving Farmer because only in that situation will you produce fruit unto perfection.”

“Remember this: If any other condition had been better for you than the one in which you are, divine love would have put you there. You are placed by God in the most suitable circumstances, and if you could choose your lot, you would soon cry, "Lord, choose my heritage for me, for by my self-will I am pierced through with many sorrows." Be content with the things you have, since the Lord has ordered all things for your good. Take up your own daily cross; it is the burden best suited for your shoulder and will prove most effective to make you perfect in every good word and work to the glory of God.”

“Be content with such things as you have.” Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President