I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13 (KJV)

I used to (and sometimes still do) get discouraged because it seems to take me so long to become the woman that God wants me to be. I ask God “Why can’t I be more quiet and gentle? I can’t I be more loving? Why can’t I control the words that come out of my mouth better than I do?”

But God has shown me that just as it takes garden many seasons to grow into its peak of beauty so it take many seasons for us to become the beautiful “garden” that God wants us to be.

In my case, I was “sown” late in life. I didn’t receive God’s gift of grace enabling me to accept Jesus Christ as my Savior until I was in my forties. So my garden may not be as magnificent  as those whose gardens began blooming early on in their lives. But God’s  timing is perfect and I know He brought me into his family at just the right moment in time. He has allowed me to have certain experiences; to take some wrong paths and to make some very wrong choices before He adopted me into his family. I don’t know why it happened this way, but I try not to question that. I just know that He is all-powerful and has the ability to bring forth the most beautiful blossoms no matter how late seeds were sown in one’s season of life.

God is sufficient and all-knowing and I can do all things through Him. I know if I follow His growing instructions, the garden of my life will one day bring forth beautiful, fragrant flowers that can be given to others as an “I love you” bouquet from God. Only our loving God can bring forth flowers from the weeds.

What flowers is God growing in your garden? How long has He been pruning you?