“For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its tender shoots will not cease. Though its root may grow old in the earth, and its stump may die in the ground, yet at the scent of water it will bud and bring forth branches like a plant.” ~ Job 14:7–9

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.” ~ Ecclesiastes 3:11

​Looking down at the flower bed, I see bright green hosta leaves forcing their way through the dark soil. Not long ago, we had to cut this plant completely back to the earth. To anyone passing by, it looked like nothing was left. But beneath the mulch, hidden from sight, the root system remained alive, quietly gathering strength for the moment it would rise again.

​Looking at those tender shoots pushing through, my mind traveled back to seasons when life stripped everything away.

​I remembered what it felt like to walk into a shelter with my children—twice in my life—facing the stark reality of having nowhere else to go. It wasn’t about feeling brave; it was raw determination. When you have no other choice and your children need protection, you do what you have to do to survive.

​I remembered the times before, between, and after those shelter years when we were out on our own, and I had to swallow my pride and go to the food bank so my kids could eat. If it had been just me, my pride might have kept me away. But a mother’s determination doesn’t yield to pride.

​And I remembered when we finally began rebuilding, getting help with mattresses for the kids. They might have been laid right on the floor at first, but they were safe places to sleep—the start of building a true home, step by step.

​In those hard, humbling seasons, God was keeping our roots alive, even when everything above the surface looked completely cut down.

​LESSONS FROM THE GARDEN

​Standing over the garden today, three visual reminders stand out:

​1. Being Cut Down Is Not the End

There are seasons when circumstances strip away our safety net and force us to start over from scratch. But being cut down to the root is not the same as being destroyed. Driven by determination and faith, God uses those bare-soil seasons to anchor us. The new growth that comes later is strong because the roots learned how to survive.

​2. Tending to the Weeds

Even amid vibrant new growth, weeds try to push up through the healthy hosta leaves. In life, those “weeds” can be the lingering memories of past hardship, subtle anxieties, or lingering fears. Growth requires gentle, ongoing vigilance: recognizing those intrusive thoughts, pulling them out by the root, and giving our minds permission to rest in peace.

​3. The Promise of Changing Seasons

Resting on top of the vibrant green hosta sits a single brown leaf—a quiet herald that seasons always move forward. Looking back at those nights with mattresses on the floor compared to today—happily married for years, settled, and surrounded by stability—that leaf brings everything full circle. It stands as a witness that God brings us through the wilderness, step by step, until the ground under our feet is solid again.

​It is a gentle reminder to never give up, because seasons change. The hard ones pass, and the good ones come. God does not leave us in the winter forever. He holds us through the pruning, sustains us while we rebuild, and faithfully brings us into a season of restoration, rest, and lasting joy.

​Through every valley, every new beginning, and every season ahead, one truth remains:

God is always good. He is always there, and He is always faithful.

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