Do you ever feel buried?

I have to admit I have been feeling this way lately. As I was praying about this, a morning devotional from Joel and Victoria Osteen popped into my inbox. It reminded me that we all feel this way at times and that we have the seed of Almighty God inside us.

Just like a seed must be buried in a dark, lonely place  and may wonder if it is the end. If we hold fast to the faith, just like the buried seeds do it means that we are coming back… and we are coming back usually to blossom or to produce fruit, but always with increase! We will always be stronger and better than before!

When you are feeling like you are in a time of challenge and buried. Decide and declare that you will not get buried. You will activate your faith. You must refuse all self-pity, distraction, doubt, diversion, delay and defeat! You may feel or even appear to be down.  However, it is only temporary. You are just germinating, sprouting and preparing to bloom!

Proverbs 15:4 – The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

Most of the time when people aren’t up to par there is a good reason. We don’t know what is going on behind closed doors, what heartache or pain the person is trying to deal with or just survive through. Maybe they are doing all they can to try to keep it together and may feel like they are just not enough. The last thing people need is for us to dump more on them. When we are planting or working in a garden, it is important to also bury the seed with just enough soil so they can sprout through it. If you heap too much on top, the sprout cannot make it to the surface to grow and bloom either.

God puts these kind of people in our lives so we can help and nurture them back to wholeness and help them bloom as well. He does not want us to judge them, condemn them, or criticize them.

We are to be the gardeners in their lives.  We are their “husbands” and healers. I love to buy wilted plants and bring them back to life to watch them bloom, as if they had never experienced damage or neglect. I love to go to the back of Lowes and buy my plants for 25 cents vs. $25 and see what I can do with them.

The same is true of people. Let’s stop judging them and start healing them. Why not take a few minutes and let people know that we noticed that they are stressed out and that we want them to have a better day? Why not say to them… “Hey, I can tell you’re stressed out. I can tell you are not feeling up to par. Is there anything I can do to help? Can I pray for you? Can I buy or cook you dinner? Can I come over and encourage you?”

Why not tell them that you may not know what the problem is, but that “God has you in the palm of His hand and He knows what you are going through. He promises that you do not have to go through it alone. He is there every step of the way and He has the solution.” Offer to pray with them.

God wants us to begin demonstrating the reality of the kingdom on earth. When you do this, come to His throne with thanksgiving and expectation. Expect God to fill you and them, just like the seed is expecting to sprout. Expect the Holy Spirit to water the seeds and rain down afresh. Be the ray of sunshine needed for growth and provide discipleship, nurturing and growth.

Proverbs 11:25 tells us- “A generous person will prosper, whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

If you are unsure what to say then pray quietly and ask the Lord what to say. He will tell you. He does not want His children hurting or thinking they have to do this all by themselves. Plus He promises to give us anything we ask in His name, including the words to say. If we submit to Him, He promises to direct our paths.

One key factor to also remember is that if you are in a deeply emotional state, it is harder to minister to others and help them bloom, so extricate yourself from emotional bondage and weeds that can choke out your seed. Many plants survive terrible storms  just like many of us have. We can’t stay in this situation. We have to embrace the sunlight and the rain.  Be resilient and not devastated. Release yourself from the past.  God already has if you have asked for forgiveness and let Him bring healing to your soul.

1 John 3:19-21 tells us- “And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before Him. For if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.”

Have the confidence to bloom and to help others to sprout, grow, heal, and bloom.

Who will you love on, encourage, or mentor today? Make a list… call them right now. Don’t let the enemy steal your seed. Who will you show His mercy to, today? Who will you give of your time or show the generosity of mercy and grace to today? Who will you refresh, share some sunshine with, and help bloom today?