Bloom Where You Are Planted

Family!! 

I hope that you are doing well!

Today’s scripture: Psalm 1:3 (NKJV)

“He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”

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Have you ever bought a plant or a seed, eager to watch it grow, but you weren’t sure of how to care for it? I have, and today, I’d like to share something valuable that I learned from this experience if that’s okay. 

About three years ago, I became a plant mom! I had taken a trip to Texas and gone to the Texas State Fair. It was such a great experience, although it was super crowded. While in Texas, someone gifted me my first plant. At the time it was known as a ‘ Wandering Jew,’ but it is now called an ‘ Inchplant.’ Immediately, I was captivated by its vibrant purple color. Despite not knowing anything about caring for plants, I was very excited. Once I returned home, I learned what it would take to keep my plant alive and thriving.

Would you believe it if I told you that, a few weeks after getting back home, my plant started to die? I was so sad about it and couldn’t figure out what was happening. However, I couldn’t figure it out because I only looked at it from the surface. The issue was beneath the soil where my plant had become infected with root rot. How many times have you thought, “Maybe if I just deal with this issue on the surface without digging deep, everything would be okay?” We often avoid dealing with deep-rooted issues, allowing them to be covered up while trying to plant something new at the same time.

I decided to look up what could cause this to happen and found out that root rot occurs when a plant is:  

1) overwatered

2) lacks proper drainage 

3) is infected with soil fungi.

 It hit me that I had been overwatering my plant, leading to a lack of proper drainage to release excess water. There was no way that I could save the whole plant because it had been attacked at the root and was being suffocated in the very place that was supposed to allow it room to grow. 

Although I couldn’t save the whole plant, my old roommate told me about a process called plant propagation. This requires removing the part of the plant that still has life (i.e. the leaves) from the dead portion and placing it in water.  Get this! Once I cut the live part of the plant and submerged it in water, it started to grow! What was different this time? I paid attention to what it needed: repotting into the proper size pot, watering correctly, and placing it in sunlight. I did not want a repeat of what took place before. 

A light bulb went off, and I realized this wasn’t just about my plant. The place where you are planted matters! Sometimes, we get so caught up in our current state that we fear a change in our environment. However, change is good and necessary! You may have to endure a season of pruning and isolation so that you can hear God more clearly. Can we pause for a second? Isolation tends to always have a negative connotation attached to it, but it does not always mean that. I believe that God sometimes isolates you to grab your attention, allowing you to hear from Him without any distractions. Family! If I had not spent time in prayer seeking God, I would have never known what to do. 

When I first moved to Tennessee, I was genuinely confused as to why God would plant me in a place where I did not know anyone. Growing up, I was told to be obedient to God no matter how hard or uncomfortable it may be, but honestly, I did not want to leave my home because it was my place of comfort. I knew my way around and where to go if I needed help. Whew! I relied on my aunt to pray for me, afraid to pray for myself.  Looking back, I see that I had outgrown where I was, and if I had not moved, I would have continued to suffocate spiritually. I had to repent and ask God to forgive me for becoming so dependent on others’ help. Before moving, I prayed, ‘Lord, wherever you plant me next, let it be a place that will push, love, and help me to grow. I wanted to grow, not just personally, but there was a hunger to grow in my faith! Have you ever felt like that? 

God had to uproot me from comfort and literally planted me in a place where I didn’t know anybody. It pushed me to lean and depend solely on Him. Back in 2021 when I joined my church, I didn’t know what to expect. Honestly, I went in there with a closed mind but was met with so much warmth and love. It was different from what I had experienced in the past. I had to trust in the unknown. Although I questioned why Memphis, the Lord saw where I needed to be planted for my next! It was and still is a place where I have experienced so much personal and spiritual growth. My heart posture has shifted from confusion and frustration to joy.

When you are planted in the right place, not only will you experience growth, but transformation. Here are some of the signs  that let me know I was growing both in my personal and spiritual journey:

1. Reading the Word of God: Make sure you are planted in a church where the Gospel is being preached truthfully! Spending time with God outside of church is vital. Cultivate a relationship of intimacy and intentionality with the Lord. Through personal devotion, worship, fasting, and prayer, find yourself seated at the feet of Jesus. Will you take a drink from the well that never runs dry?
   

2. Changes in relationships: My pastor once said, “In this season, you cannot be caught with the wrong people.” This resonated with me deeply. I’ve been careful about who I connect to in this season of my life. You need real, godly friendships where you are held accountable, prayed with and for, loved on, laughed with, and the walk with Christ is taken seriously. There is safety in the right connections. I pray that you will experience real friends in this season.
   

3. Correction: How can you grow if you can't accept correction and choose to continue doing what you want? When you make the decision to grow, there will be times when you will experience Godly rebuke. 

Proverbs 3:11-12 (AMP) says: 

 My son, do not reject or take lightly the discipline of the Lord [learn from your mistakes and the testing that comes from His correction through discipline];

Nor despise His rebuke, 

For those whom the Lord loves He corrects, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights

Rebuke is not to harm you but to help you grow. Because God loves you, He will use trusted friends, family members, pastors, and others to approach and correct you in love. Although it may feel tough to hear, there can be no growth without water. My pastor said something so profound in our 5 am devotion.

I know that it is so early to be awake, but when you are truly hungry to hear what the Lord is saying, you will make a sacrifice.

1. "Where you are planted MATTERS! "

2. "The water is wherever God has planted you."

My hope and prayer for you is that you are planted in the place where God wants you this season of your life, so that you may experience the watering through His word and grow as a person spiritually. If you feel like your current place isn’t helping you grow for some reason, I encourage you to seek God in prayer. Ask Him to give you wisdom and discernment in what to do so that you do not make a move prematurely and walk in disobedience. It’s time to GROW!

I love you family, and I am praying for you. 

Here is a scripture that my pastor referenced, so I encourage you to read it throughout your day (Jeremiah 17:5-8).

Until next time,

Lalisha