I Needed This One…

“So neither the ones who plants nor the one who waters is anything,

but only God, who makes things grow.”

— 1 Corinthians 3:7

I do not always remember to read my verse of the day scripture from my Bible App, but when I do, it is as if God sends me exactly what I need to hear or know from Him.

The scripture, quoted above, immediately brought tears to my eyes. In the way only His word can do, complete relief and freedom washed over me once those words sunk in. And then my shoulders eased.

I wasn’t aware that I had been holding on to the feeling that everything depended on me.

It is a fact that I am a single mother; I have never ruminated on this fact nor have I worn it as a badge of honor. It just was. The same easy acceptance came with my transition from being a designer to an artist. There was no fanfare or major announcement, I just began painting and the response was positive, so I kept painting.

Time has not slowed down, but for some strange reason, my children seem to be growing like weeds now, outpacing time; entering into their period of notable milestones. My career and life goals, which were once undefined and fuzzy due to transition are now more clearly defined. When I think of these two major elements along with my status as a single mom, the trepidatious question I quietly ask myself is, ‘Can I do this…all of this? By myself?’

I can not tell you how long I subconsciously wrestled with that question, but I wrestled with it long enough to feel the power of grace and beauty of release this morning when I read the scripture:

“So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”

— 1 Corinthians 3:7

This scripture reminded me that I am not in charge.

He only needs me to be faithful. To show up and plant the seeds in the manner He has given me to plant them in, and He will take care of rest. It is selfish for me to think everything is mine alone to carry - that burden gets heavy quickly and slows progress!

There is a beautiful freedom in knowing that He will carry what we can not.