Bloom where you're planted

I was listening to a very good message by Nicky Gumbel, when an unexpected and unwanted lie slid into my mind. God must love Nicky Gumbel more than me. Look what he’s achieved. Great big, well-known church in London and Alpha, such a fruitful worldwide ministry. He must be one of God’s favourites. What have I done? I don’t even know anyone famous and successful.

Before I tumbled down this slippery slope any further, I put the mental brakes on and called my treacherous mind back to the truth. I am unique – fearfully and wonderfully made. I’m the apple of my Father’s eye. I am who God wants me to be. I look the way God wants me to look and as Nicky Gumbel said in his message ‘I have been planted where God wants me to bloom.’ 

He was speaking about this in the context of the Israelites who had been exiled to Babylon. They were hoping the exile would soon be over and they could go back to how life used to be – back in Israel. Does this all sound every familiar in the context of the pandemic? 

God however spoke to them in Jeremiah 29 and told them to put down roots, build a life, pray for the city or place they had been sent to and then God said: For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. Jeremiah 29: 11 – 13 

God has great plans and purposes for us in these days. We are where he wants us to be. We can bloom and be fruitful right where we are. We don’t need things to go back to how they used to be. We don’t need to be rich and famous or even prominent to achieve what God has called us to be and do. We need to be faithful. 

One of my main focuses in life has been to raise our family and now they are grown up and there are grandchildren galore, there is much to pray for. There are 21 people in our own, immediate family! That takes some praying for. I may not have any daily responsibility for them. They may be scattered around the world but they are certainly not out of sight or out of mind. They are settled in my heart. I am praying not just for their salvation but they will, every one, be passionate about their relationship with God. I want to raise a generation of giant slayers. That’s where I have been called to bloom. 

God hasn’t called any of us to twiddle our spiritual thumbs and hope the pandemic will be over soon. He has called us to be a Godly influence where we are. Nicky Gumbel tells the story of the supermarket check out lady who sat at her till, got to know the names of her customers, listen to their stories and tell them she’d pray for them. When she died, the church was packed with these same customers coming to pay their respects for this lady, who had had such an impact on their lives - sitting at her till. 

We most certainly don’t need to be prominent to be significant. Our prayers, our conversations with family and friends can have the most enormous ripple effects. If we don’t make Jesus a topic of conversation with the people we know, who else is going to? When in trouble, people like someone who they think has a hotline to God to pray and advise them but helping them form their own relationship with God is so important. God has called us to bloom where he has planted us. It may not look very exciting, it may not be very prominent but it is significant if we make the most of our Godly relationship to pray and bring God’s presence into our circle of influence.

If I'd known ...

I was wondering recently what I would have done differently if someone had told us a terrible pandemic was coming which would affect the whole planet and completely transform our lives.

If I’d known we would be unable to travel and see family and friends, what might I have done? If I’d known that I couldn’t hug my children and grandchildren, how could I have prepared? If I’d know that going shopping would be very different, having to queue and wear masks. If I’d realised that even going to IKEA would turn into an awkward and unwelcome shopping experience. 

Queuing outside shops.

If I’d known that going to anywhere like a National Trust property would mean booking in advance, reduced numbers, social distancing, and then having to sit outside with a takeaway coffee and cake in the autumn chill, would I have stayed at home? If I’d known that social distancing meant treating everyone cautiously as a possible virus carrier and that our social life would be severely dented, what might I have done?

I feel as if we sleep walked into the pandemic, not having a clue what was facing us. At first it was quite enjoyable with the slow down in life but we didn’t have to home school children, while trying to work at home ourselves, in a small flat in the middle of a city. I didn’t lose my job nor was I furloughed. The pandemic is a great leveller. Everyone from the Queen to the humblest citizen had to stay at home unless they had an essential job, but it is the consequences now that have perhaps been the most shocking.  Our whole lives have not returned to what was normal and it does not look as if we will ever do so. 

What might I have done if I’d known?  I’m not sure there is anything I could really have done except perhaps been prepared mentally.  However that could have been counterproductive, as we may have imagined things far worse or quite differently. Someone recently asked why did God not warn us?  

I don’t know but the one thing God has promised and in my opinion has proved very faithful is that he will never leave us or forsake us.  My relationship with God, which was not that bad before, has deepened. I have never prayed as much or as strategically as I have in recent months. I have learned how to pray for nations and governments. I have learned to pray and trust God with the big things of life.  I have learned to be thankful for everything and maybe that is what I might have done if I’d known …I might have appreciated all that I had with a far greater depth of thankfulness. I may have valued everything and not taken so much for granted. 

I have also learned that ‘All things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose.’   There is much good that has come out of this – the Church has emerged from its closed buildings onto the internet and has encountered so many more people. 

The Church, along with many others, has reached out to the poor and needy in our society. I remember the singing vicar who walked his streets singing Christian songs to encourage his parishioners. The Blessing has become an anthem of 2020. There have been many inspiring stories as people have reached out selflessly to those in need.

Abroad, those living in the greatest poverty before are living even more fragile lives once coronavirus hit their countries. It has been so good to stand with them in prayer and finance. 

There is now one absolutely certain fact. Everything has changed and almost certainly, nothing will go back to how it used to be.  Life may not be what I want, but I’m going to appreciate what I have now and take nothing for granted. It’s no point complaining; we still have much to be thankful for. 

God is working out a much bigger plan and purpose that should keep us focused, prayerful and expectant. We all have a part to play. The world needs Christians who can bring hope and life to those struggling with unemployment, debt, sickness and despair. There is a harvest out there and the Lord of the Harvest needs his harvesters ready with scythes and fishing nets. 

I never realised 2020 was going to be like this and none of us knows what 2021 might be like but even if the virus is still challenging our lives, still bringing unexpected and unwanted change, still confining us and making our relationships challenging, God is faithful and trustworthy. God is in control. 

Please leave a comment about what you might have done 'If I'd known ..."