I cannot help but hear the sweet voices of my dear sisters, “The West Girls” when I type this entry. They have an adorable song called “Green Beans in the Garden”. Anyway, onto what I learned in my little garden today. . .

It’s amazing to me how often God speaks to me while I’m working, or at times, just sitting and reflecting in the garden. It’s one of my favorite places to be, and He regularly whispers something to my heart while I am there. Perhaps that is why I love it so. Today, I headed out to the garden to see how things were growing. I hadn’t been in a couple of days, as things have been quite busy and God has provided sufficient rain, so no need for watering. I started at one end where I had planted yellow squash seeds two weeks ago.  I went on to look at the tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, onions, cabbage, garlic, herbs, and then glanced over towards the “bean area” expecting to see covered rows of dirt where I had planted beans only 6 days ago. . . but WOW was I surprised! Forget rows of dirt! What did I see, but 8 beautiful rows of very leafy, very healthy green bean PLANTS! HOW did this happen?! I was amazed, and very excited. Each year, I check every day or two and watch for the first tiny seedlings, count them and rejoice with each new one. This year, it went from nothing to abundant healthy, growing plants in all 8 rows! I was so thankful. I had prayed that God would bless the beans and all of our crops this year, but was I expecting this?! As I pondered this, I began to realize God had something deeper to speak to me through it.  I realized this only when I heard myself saying out loud to anyone who would listen, “How could this be?! I was only out there two days ago and there was nothing! There was absolutely nothing! I saw nothing! NOTHING!” Woah. It started to sink in.  “And today, there are plants that appear to be at least 3 weeks old!” Woah again. Could it be that in our seasons of “nothingness”, absolute nothingness, seasons of silence and fruitlessness by the natural eye, that God could be at work “under the dirt”? Could it be that only a few days ago or a few weeks ago, there was ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, but next time we look, He has caused something beautiful to come forth, and it is progressed beyond it’s time, to make up for lost time? Could it be that when all we see is death and drought, that LIFE is about to spring forth from God’s heart into a natural manifestation? Of course! Of course! Of course it could be! Let that sink deep into your soul today.

I’m sure you’ve studied and heard this Scripture taught many, many times, but since His Word is so fresh and alive, I’m going to challenge you to read it again and just be still before the Lord and absorb what He has to say to you like a sponge.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit.  John 12:24

If a seed does not first die, it will never be able to live and flourish. . . it just remains a hard, cold, little useless seed that sadly never sees the very purpose God created it for. The beans had to first die before they could emerge and flourish and excel. What good would they have been safely kept inside the seed packet, or even lying on top of the dirt? A BURIAL must take place in order for life to come forth.

Do you have visions, God-given dreams that you are a little (or a lot) afraid to let go of, to trust God with? It would surely hurt to toss them onto the ground, but even harder still to dig a hole and BURY them, no? You see, when they are buried, we can no longer see them or touch them, and our flesh really likes to see what is going on. It likes to see God working and answering our prayers. Imagine, burying your most treasured heart’s desires, and *blindly* trusting God to have His way in your life no matter what. Wow. What a calling. It’s my calling and it is also your calling, dear sister. To be totally, wrecklessly, abandoned to our Master, our Master who has called Himself “Husband” to us, His Bride. This whole burial process doesn’t mean you will forget what you buried, or even stop desiring it. (For surely, God has placed many of the wholesome desires in our heart with His own loving hand.) It just means you will want Him more, and it will become very real to you that “better is one day in His courts than a thousand elsewhere.” and your soul will pant for Him as the deer pants for the water, and you will seek Him relentlessly until you find Him, and He promises that you will!  Can we do this on our own? Never. But. . . He is able to grant us the courage and the grace to bury all these things we hold dear.  Then, one day when you are not expecting it at all, He may very likely surprise you with rows of resurrected, flourishing promises fulfilled- prayers answered, and they may just be far bigger and heartier and greater than you would have imagined! Are you willing to sacrifice your “Isaac” today for a greater calling of walking solely and utterly with your God?

As you pass by the garden that you have sown in, but see no outward signs of life springing forth, be assured that God works even when we cannot see Him. He has promised to satisfy your soul, to make you totally complete in Him alone, and His grace covers all of your doubts and fears. If you are willing, He will do a work in your heart. Be encouraged by this verse of Scripture:

The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and give strength to your bones, and you will be like a watered garden, a spring whose waters fail not. Isaiah 58:11

Thank you for allowing me to share my heart.

Praying God will give you a “green bean parable” experience of your own,

Candace <><