One thing I love about beautiful spring weather is it brings the opportunity to finally throw away the chains of winter. The birds sing louder, the sun shines brighter, and everyone just seems happier. On one recent Spring Day, I was enjoying the opportunity to take a walk outside and enjoy the wonderful day. As I walked down the sidewalk taking in the beauty of the day, I noticed several places along my walk where small stems of grass or weeds had somehow mightily pushed through a small crack in the sidewalk or, perhaps, somehow created their own small opportunity to spring forth under the most difficult of conditions. It didn’t matter that the concrete sidewalk seemed impenetrable or that that the soil was not perfect or ideal for growing or that the grass had been stepped on and torn; somehow, the small blade of grass persevered and managed to grow anyway.
As Christians, we tend to live our lives in a world of “if only’s” and “what ifs.” We believe that if only “so and so” had not have happened in my life, I could do more for God and be more successful. We ask ourselves, “what if I could have done this”, or “what if I would not have done this,” I would be one of God’s chosen few. We live our lives trying to convince ourselves that we don’t live more for God because we don’t have all the tools or benefits we need to get the job done. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth.
You’re not stuck where you are. Despite the obstacles you may face; despite what may seem like an uphill climb, you can grow, you can change, you can make a difference, you can be more than you are today with God’s help. Basically, as Christians, we have two choices. You can constantly search outwardly for what you don’t have or what you think you may need. This leads to discontentment and frustration because you’re always chasing something you will never catch. I know, I’ve done this myself. The second choice is to begin changing your focus to an upward focus toward God in all that you do and realizing HE is the source of all things in your life. No obstacle will be too great. No mountain too high to climb. No desert too dry to grow. I have to believe that the little blade of grass I saw that day was outwardly focused on growing toward the beautiful sun that so brightened everyone’s day. Change your focus and you’ll grow where you are planted.
