AngelaNorman.Org

“Mrs. Norman are you sitting down?” the voice on the other end of the phone relayed. “Your name has been selected, and you have just won a brand-new car!”

This has to be a scam, I immediately thought,  And I’m not falling for it!  The lady identified herself as an employee with Piggly Wiggly grocery store which hinted even more a fraudulent phone call. I was polite, thanked her and asked her to call back after I finished home-schooling. I can’t wait to share this lady’s call with Chuck.

My husband responded similarly to me, however, he decided to call the lady back himself. I listened close by. My heart beat faster as my husband’s responses confirmed we had actually won a car. Piggly Wiggly chose my name in a drawing based on my rewards card. My thoughts whirled, “What will the children think?”  and “Did this just happen?”

Weeks earlier my teenage sons had expressed dissatisfaction in driving the 15-passenger family van. The boys continuously checked to make sure the van was available for youth nights and other social activities. When they noticed their peers driving sporty cars, they became dissatisfied with our big family van. I longed to buy a car for both of my boys, but finances would not permit it. My response always remained the same, “The Lord will provide.” Spoken by faith. Spoken hopefully.

 My journal entries over the years testified of how often I asked God to provide another vehicle. I knew God was able to supply a vehicle for us, but my faith could not fathom how we could even purchase an older car.  Why hasn’t somebody ever sold us a car for a dollar like many of my friends boasted?  Learning to surrender my thoughts calmed my heart on more than one occasion. This was one of those moments.

Rampant excitement filled our home the following week. The big day finally arrived. My family spent an entire afternoon preparing to meet the store manager so they could take promotional pictures of us with the car. As we drove up to the store our eyes caught sight of a brand-new North Face Avalanche. It was more than I imagined. And boy, did it smell good?  We’d never smelled a new car before. The thrilled expressions from my teens and young ones made my heart swell. It all seemed like a dream as colorful balloons danced back and forth from the car’s antenna. Everywhere we turned somebody congratulated us. God had provided.

Not only did God meet our needs, but He answered our desire as well. He had provided far more than I had asked or imagined. I was the lady expecting someone to sell us their used vehicle for a dollar. Paul shares in Philippians 4:19 that, “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

In spite of my doubting thoughts, God provided. In Matthew  6:25 Jesus tells His disciples not to worry about food or water. God desires a relationship with Him and in so doing it requires we trust Him for all our daily needs. The promise in Psalm 84:11 states, “No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”  This reassures us that He honors our faithfulness as we walk uprightly.

There are times in every believer’s life when we experience great needs. Paul also states he had learned to be content in all situations and this included times of plenty and times of need ( Philippians 4:11). During my season of waiting and trusting God, what I NEEDED  was STRENGTH to persevere. Strength to wait. Strength to be patient for God’s provision of another car. God is trustworthy and knows our needs and desires better than we do.

God graced my waiting season with more than I could have imagined. My family often revels in the goodness of God when we recall that September day when God’s provision showed up in a most unusual way.    

“Nonnie!  Nonnie!  We didn’t get to go into  the treasure box!” cried my granddaughter, Ellee Faith. At four years old she more than adequately expressed her frustration coupled with a big frown. While on vacation we visited another church. Ellee Faith could hardly wait to attend a different Sunday School. Her expectations were quickly crushed when the visiting class didn’t include a treasure box.

Once  a month I have the wonderful privilege of teaching Sunday School. Ellee Faith is part of this precious bunch. I look forward to the end of class as we circle up, review, and await something special. The excited children huddle together on the floor and with eager eyes they watch me. Slowly,  I reach my hand up in a tall, white cabinet and pull down a rustic-looking,  treasure box.

One by one the children sift their tiny fingers through the box  for a new treasure. Seeing their faces makes teaching the most fidgety child worth every minute. All kinds of treasures can be found in the rustic box. Bubbles, necklaces, toy insects, pencils, coins, and even tiny pieces of chocolate. Some things new, some things old. The little ones take great satisfaction showing their parents the new gift.

Treasure is defined as a quantity of precious metals, gems and valuable objects;  great worth, a collection of precious things. I suppose my little treasure box is more of a “collection of special things.”

Matthew 6:21 states, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” The children’s hearts are definitely  set on picking out an exciting treasure each week. We learn in Colossians 2:3  that in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Does my heart yearn for His hidden treasure? Do we get excited seeking gems of truth from His word? Am I continually awaiting fresh knowledge with great anticipation?

Oftentimes, my heart seeks treasure that satisfies only temporarily. I’m guilty of starting my quiet time only to be distracted by something else my heart believes is treasure. The text, the chores and often the “glossier gems” lure me away from the necessary. I’m  deceived in believing my value can be found in temporary treasures.

Seeking His wisdom and knowledge requires us to let go of the counterfeit treasures and seek the genuine one. Like little Ellee Faith, may we never lose sight of the true  treasure. As the Father graciously extends His hand continually to us, may our spirit yearn for more of His gifts. With eagerness let us extract from His word all He has and our hearts be satisfied.  

“Hey, Angela! There’s a petunia growing out of the bricks on your front porch,” my brother-in-law shouted as he was leaving my home.  I was in the kitchen finishing up the last dishes from Easter celebrations. A petunia?  How strange, I thought, as I loaded the last glass in the dishwasher. Why is a Petunia growing out of my front porch’s brick and why have  I not noticed before?  Thinking it was a weed, I quickly dismissed the thought.

The next morning, I rushed around anticipating a day full of errands.  As I grabbed my keys and stepped out the front door, my eyes caught sight of a small, snow-white petunia. It shot up out of a crevice from a brick on my porch.  My brother-in-law was right! She survived with no soil, no water and very little sunlight.

 Fascinating!

Thoughts of the old, familiar saying I’ve quoted so many times, “Bloom where you are planted” came rushing back. I suddenly recalled difficult trials, hard places, and many moments of my often-blurred perception on life. My parents’ divorce, miscarriages, moves to plant churches and losing a sister, flooded my thoughts.   Even in the most cumbersome circumstances of life and those, “I don’t fit well here,” moments, God is able to bring beauty out of the struggles. It may be uncomfortable, even unfavorable, but the Father has a plan and a purpose so much greater for us. 

What happens when we are hard-pressed on every side, perplexed and even struck down? Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 that we will experience some difficult situations in this world.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed, we are perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…”

There are  four “nots” that are actually in  our favor. 

I will NOT be crushed.
I will NOT despair.
I NOT be abandoned.
I will NOT be destroyed. 

This tiny Petunia  could’ve been struck down by some hurried feet or destroyed by a windy thunderstorm. Apparently, the Father had other plans for this young, fresh plant. One of those plans was a new reminder. Despite the toughest circumstances when there is no spiritual nourishment, the season is dry and parched, He has a plan. A plan that causes new growth and wonder in the most unexpected time and season. A plan that shows forth the beauty of His handiwork. A plan that I will be victorious and not despairing no matter what trials and pain show up.   

Paul states that, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that is the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”  This treasure is the greatness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the glory of God made obvious through the gospel. We are frail like earthen vessels. When I reflect on what God chose to put His light and glory into, earthen vessels and clay pots, I am amazed.

In the ancient world clay pots were not very durable and basically useless if broken. They were inexpensive and of little value.  Yet, God chose to put His treasure, His light and glory,  in such weak vessels(everyday dishes) and not in the fine china. Why?  So, it is evident to all that the work is done by the power of God, and not the power of the vessel. Risky vessels chipped and cracked beautifully show forth the glory of God.

Who could imagine that the tiniest, white petunia showing up on my front porch had such a large message to share of a loving, gracious heavenly Father who desires to use us in all of our hard places. A Father who longs to reveal beauty in the most difficult and hard-pressed seasons of life.  Seasons that surprisingly appear on our front porch reminding us we can bring glory to Him no matter what happens.

As I was driving home from the grocery store one warm, summer afternoon, my phone rang, “Mom! Did you know that your fig tree has a fig on it, not just one, but another at the very top and two more at the bottom!” Her voice was filled with excitement as she relayed new information that I would be eager to hear. “You are kidding me?” I replied with exhilaration. Hannah knew I had almost given up on that fig tree.

Remembering back three years earlier when my son, Nathan, helped me plant the fig tree in our back yard. The tree was a gift from my daughter-in-law’s grandparents. When I laid eyes on her, she was a mere twelve inches in height with lots of lush, green foliage. I always wanted a fig tree ever since a friend from church invited us over to pick our fill from his more than abundant fruit tree. I would pick them, eat them, and make the sweetest jam.

Nathan  began to dig just the precise hole. Shortly after digging he quickly responded, “Mom, we’ve got a problem, the ground where I started digging is soft and spongy.”  Yikes!! I knew that could mean only one thing…septic tank problems. It was while waiting for the expensive repairs, I made sure the fig tree was tucked safely in her pot and bathed her often with waterings.  

Finally, she was planted, safe and secure with plenty of fresh sunshine. That summer I checked regularly for fruit but to no avail. My limited knowledge of fig trees assumed that fruit would come quickly. When the end of summer came and left, I encouraged myself that surely next year there would be fruit.

 Next summer came and once again I waited. She was now even taller and fuller with leaves as big as hands. Surely, this will be the summer of lush figs. The end of August came and went. But I was left with no visible signs of figs. Not even one.

At this point, I decided research was in order. Maybe another fig tree was necessary for pollination. I quickly learned fig trees are self-fertile and produce on their own…. Except mine.

By the third summer, she was beautiful and a full six foot tree. This is the summer I am going to see fruit, I told myself. I envisioned myself, along with my grandchildren, picking juicy, ripe figs savoring every sweet bite.

June, July, and August were filled with my usual, exciting strolls to the back yard. I carefully moved the huge, green leaves anxious to spot a fig but still no fruit.

It was September when my daughter called me that day driving home from the store. As I pulled in the driveway, I barely parked the car and hastened to the back yard, longing to see and confirm my daughter’s news. Quickly,  I counted one…two… three…four beautiful, green figs all hanging so proudly from separate branches. But it was September. We always picked Mr. Leon’s figs in July.

My waiting was not over. Only two more figs appeared and each day they remained green and firm. Was this some sort of  bizarre late blooming fruit?  Summer was over and I doubted this fruit would ripen now.

 My waiting turned to a rest and as the fall festivities rushed in so did chilly weather. Late one afternoon in early November, my husband said excitedly, “Did you happen to see that brown thing hanging from the fig tree outside?” Brown? That could only mean one thing…A ripened fig! Excitedly, I rushed outside and my eyes could hardly believe what I saw. One juicy ripe fig just waiting to be picked.

How did I miss this? When did I stop expecting and watching that fig tree? Perhaps I unknowingly entered a  rest while in the waiting. In Hab. 3:17-18 it says, “ Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls, Yet I will REJOICE IN THE LORD, I WILL JOY IN THE GOD OF MY SALVATION”

How may times I have anxiously waited for fruit to be produced in my own life. Looking patiently for God to move, to work, to show up in some area of my life or in the life of others. Discouragement and weariness lurked around every corner reminding me of how long I had been waiting.

The waiting room is never comfortable. Oftentimes it is cold, lonely and no visible signs of change. Hope is next door sitting quietly reminding me to not give up.

How easy it would have been to cut the fig tree down after three years of waiting. We look over our endless days, weeks, months and even years of trusting God. We wonder in the waiting.

No blossoms on the fig tree, no flocks, no olives…. Just waiting for the tide to turn in a situation or to hear a glimmer of  good news about a matter that has been bathed in prayer. Surely it would be like rivers of water to a parched desert.

I  long to see change in my circumstances especially in the long-awaited areas. Resting is never a bad place to be. It is a complete, total surrender to God for the concerns and weightier matters in my life. Sure, I  still  “watch and wait,” but I also rest in a God who knows only a thorough, flawless time to answer.

One day, I awaken with a new sense that a burden has been lifted gently, not necessarily removed, but clearly uplifted. Joy envelopes me as I embrace a fresh, new perspective on life. There may be just one ripe fruit, one slight change or one small season of rest that quickly refreshes and restores me so much, I hardly notice the unchanged circumstances.

Trusting in God through the difficult seasons is not easy and His work cannot be hurried. Learning to rest knowingly or unknowingly yields its own fruit. I  can rejoice, I can joy in the God of my salvation as I realize the unexpected fruit did come after-all.