Job 14:1-2 (GNB) - We are all born weak and helpless. All lead the same short, troubled life. We grow and wither as quickly as flowers; we disappear like shadows.
I was walking around the yard with my parents, and we noticed the fully blossomed rosebush; it was beautiful. I made a comment about how I didn’t know roses grew in this area. Mom said something like “they’ll be gone soon; they never stay long”. I thought about my time with B&W and FIERY, and how quickly their lives were. This rosebush was so full and beautiful; what’s the point of it growing if it’s just gonna fade away in a few days?
I remembered the bible verse in Job about how we’re born helpless and grow and wither like flowers. First, I thought about Job. I don’t understand why Job suffered so greatly. Job had everything in life, lost it all, was given everything back, lived a great life, and died. Why? I wonder, what was the point of his life? This led me down a rabbit hole of thoughts about my life and my purpose here on Earth.
What’s the point of my life? Am I gonna be here for a short while like this rosebush or a long time like Job? Will I ever gain anything, will I gain a lot and lose it all, or will I gain more than I can ever imagine and never lose it? Who knows? I’ve experienced a lot in my life; I’ve traveled the world, stabbed myself in the eye, survived two car accidents, and graduated college, twice. (* cues choir to play Never Would Have Made It *). Adding to that, my current life struggle is I’m a millennial who listened to everyone who said, “go to college so you can get a good job and make money and be happy”.
I wish I could go back and tell every single one of those people that as a result of me taking their advice, what happened was I went to college, got into a lot of debt, struggled to find gainful employment, and now I’m working but bill collectors are working harder and my mental health is declining and my social life is non-existent like my sleep schedule and my mom would be really sad if she knew how bad my diet really is, and none of that makes me happy.
At the end of the day, all I can do is ask God to give me the motivation to not give up. I don’t know how my life is gonna play out and honestly, I’m tired of stressing myself about it. I feel at peace knowing what’s for me is for me; I just gotta keep going. So, when I saw this beautiful rosebush and learned the flowers probably wouldn’t see the next week, I was reminded how we’re all only here for a short time and how I have to make each moment count. The flowers’ beauty doesn’t matter, their life purpose does. Just like I don’t need to understand why Job suffered, I don’t need to understand why these beautiful flowers lived a short life.
God just wants us to trust in His wisdom and character with all things, so that's what I'll do.
Life Lesson:
· No matter how beautiful someone or something is — it to, will quickly wither and disappear.
How I Apply it to My Life:
· I live life one day at a time and just trust God’s guidance.
Song:
· Marvin Sapp – Never Would Have Made It
SLIDESHOW: Pictures from the rosebush photoshoot.