On the Brink of Blooming

April. The first glimpses of spring glistened in the sunlight. Flower buds emerged from the ground, just enough to see pastel colors peek through the semi-fresh blades of grass. It was still chilly in the air, but we had finally gotten past the frost of the winter. (Or so, we all had hoped.)

For the first time in a long time, I felt refreshed. Maybe it was the Vitamin D that came with extended daylight. Maybe it was the slightly warmer temperatures. Or maybe it was the hope of knowing the harsh, snowy weather was finally behind us for the next seven or eight months.

Except…we were still in this awkward dynamic of needing a thick sweater one day and a lighter jacket the next. The beauty of spring would be coming, but it hadn’t settled in just yet.

Being the floral enthusiast I am, I ventured to several botanical gardens. I wanted to see flowers, but all I saw was stems and soil. It was slightly too early for most blooms. I’d have to wait and return when they blossomed to see the colors and beauty I longed for.

I had been anticipating some big life events, including surgery, relationship changes, and growth in ministry. I had been living in the tension of “how many days left…?” and “how can I make the most of today?” Part of me felt stuck in this space where I’d leave behind the old and learn how to step into the new. This space where I would prepare to enter into what’s next.

I don’t know about you, friend, but sometimes I want to rush ahead into what’s next, even if I’m not fully prepared for it. Sometimes I want to see the flowers in bloom, even if they’re not ready yet. Often, I want to glance over the last parts of a dry, dull season and leap into something new. 

As tough a spot this is, what if God has something valuable for us in this place? What if His best lessons for us come in this overlap of seasons, and instead of rushing ahead, we slow down and appreciate what He’s doing right here and now?

The Teacher in Ecclesiastes (possibly Solomon) said “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, ESV). We may want to swap seasons, but what if we slowed down to enjoy today because we know that desired season will come? What would change in our lives if we lived with this confident faith?

It’s kind of hard to “stop and smell the roses” when they’re not yet in bloom. But we can pause to see God’s hand in the details. We can look around for evidence of His goodness and faithfulness, and we will find it. We will find Him as we seek Him (James 4:8).

You might be familiar with the phrase “already, but not yet.” We live in this stage spiritually, where we experience the presence of God, but we’re not yet out of the brokenness of the world and in eternity with God. We’re here because, for today, this is where God wants us to be. To be telling others of His goodness. To be trusting Him in the unknowns. To encounter His love in the midst of healing. And one day, we know He will bring us into heaven. Into perfect unity with Him. No more crying, no more grief, no more pain (Revelation 21:1-5). We can look forward to this day with great anticipation and hope!

And for now, we can look ahead with joy while being present today. We can reflect on God’s goodness and remember His faithfulness, knowing He will be the same tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8). We can remind ourselves…but not feel the need to rush ahead. 

As I publish this post, it’s now June. The flowers have bloomed. They’re beautiful, vibrant, and bring me joy. And they were worth the wait.