Looking at my houseplants, I realize each one has been given to me. They weren’t necessarily gifts but had grown too large for their space, or their owners were moving, or they were going to be tossed out.
The peace lily came home with us from New Jersey on a cold and snowy day. Family members were going to be moving to Florida and were not going to take it along for the trip. It wasn’t a large plant but it was a healthy one. Our truck was filled with things we were taking home with us and as a last minute gesture and joke, it was shoved into a space in the back of our pickup. “If it makes it home, it is yours!”
It made the four hour plus ride home, exposed to the cold temps, freezing rain, and wind. It’s been about fifteen years and it is still growing quite healthy. Each year it has bloomed one flower, a peace lily, I am told.
Fifteen years. Fifteen flowers. And not once had I noticed -Â the peace lily has the sweetest, most gentle aroma.
Bending over to water the plant, the sweet smell filled my senses. It was so pleasant, I breathed it in several more times. How had I not ever picked up on its scent?
The Scripture begins to weave through my thoughts:
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable.” (Isaiah 40:28, NASB)
What do we miss when we are not keeping our eyes and ears open to the words the Lord would drop into our hearts and minds?
“God knows how we feel and how we fear, and He is adequate to meet our every need.” (Warren Wiersbe)
He knows the journey can be tiring and wearisome. What can we trust Him to do for us along the way?
“He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power.”
(verse 29)
And He does more …
“Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.” (verses 30-31)
We have this promise of exchange – our weakness for His power. We do not need to stumble our way through life. We can rise up with strength in the midst of a crisis. We can navigate our way through the daily demands of life which threaten to overwhelm us.
As I look at my peace lily, I hear the words of Jesus:
“Peace I leave with you;
My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.
Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”
“We can produce beautiful fruit and be pleasing to the Lord by allowing Jesus to feed our souls, hydrate our thirst, light our path and cut away anything that does not serve Him.” In this post, “Growing Well”, we are encouraged to submit our lives to the Vinedresser,
Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.
Our weakness for His power – what a blessed exchange!
Truly, and an exchange we can avail ourselves to every day.
I take huge comfort from Psalm 103: “He knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.”
So true. He knows we need His strength each day and will supply it freely.
Amen Joanne. Beautiful. Blessings.
Joanne I love this post about your peace lily! I have two peace lilies, and the one in my office blooms twice yearly and currently has FIVE blooms on it!! The one I have at home is also in bloom and though a larger plant has THREE blooms, but it does not get as much sunlight as the one in my office. The one in my office was well nigh dead when I got it (In fact I wrote a post about what a dead plant taught me) and you would never know it now! Just reminds me that with God all things are possible!!
Donna, you and your plant have now inspired me. I am going to get some plant food and see if perhaps I can get more blooms 🙂 It is amazing how God teaches us through plants which are right before our eyes every day.
I love how God reminds us of Himself in His creation if we care to pay attention.
I agree and it is amazing how He can show up anywhere!
That’s awesome that you’ve had your peace lily for 15 years, Joanne. I had one once, but the tips of the leaves always got brown and I eventually got rid of it. I had no idea the flowers had a scent, either. Thank you these encouraging thoughts about God’s strength making up for our weakness. I need to remember that this week. 🙂
Sometimes the tips get slightly brown and I “trim” them 🙂 Not having a very green thumb, I am amazed the plant is still living. My goal now is to keep it alive which brings another truth to light … in our weakness, God gives us strength so that we are able to keep on going, living out the plan He has purposed for us. May He supply the strength you need for this week!
Joanne, thank you for this lovely post. Thank you for this reminder that no matter what obstacle (physical or emotional) is blocking us, Jesus is there with an outstretched hand to pull us through or to pull us into His embrace to shelter us with His peace. Such an inspiring post for me and needed it today. God Bless â¤ðŸ™
I used to have several peace lilies. They seemed to be the plant I came away with most often after funerals of parents and grandparents. But I have none now.
I’m so thankful that God trades our weakness for his strength. That definitely brings me peace!