Shine Bright, Even if You Feel Like a Lightning Bug on Low Batteries

Well, bless your bones, come here and sit a little spell on this here honey suckle-lined porch and let me remind you of somethin’ sweet that I can lay easy on your heart: you are a light in this world, so shine bright today even if you feel like a lightning bug who forgot to recharge overnight. God’s really got you.

In Matthew 13:3-37, Jesus once told a story about a farmer ‘a-scatterin’ seed all over the place probably with the same enthusiasm my ole’ German uncle uses when he feeds chickens, which is to say, he’s ‘a-gettin’ it everywhere except where he meant to. Jesus said the farmer plants the seed, then goes home, snoozes, wakes up, eats biscuits, lives his life, and all the while, that seed is ‘a-sproutin’ and ‘a-growin’, and the farmer “does not know how.”

Now that right there is one of the most encouragin’ truths in Scripture. Jesus is ‘a-tellin’ us that God is ‘a-workin’ even when we can’t see a blessed thing ‘a-happenin’. The farmer does his part, sows the seed, but he doesn’t sit up all night ‘a-frettin’ like a hen who misplaced her chicks. He doesn’t dig up the seed every morning to check on it like some of us do with our worries. He trusts the process. Truth is, he’s ‘a-trustin’ God.

And sure enough, the seed grows, first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel. God handles the miracle part. The farmer just shows up when it’s harvest time.

That’s how God works in us, too. We plant truth, kindness, prayer, and obedience, and then God does the growin’ (1 Corinthians 3:7). Sometimes slow. Sometimes quiet. Sometimes so sneaky you don’t even notice till one day, bam! There’s fruit ‘a-hangin’ everywhere like peaches in July.

I once watched a boy at church go from sweet to surly faster than a goat ‘a-jumpin’ a fence. His parents prayed, cried, prayed some more, and waited. And wouldn’t you know it, years later that same boy asked for a reference to go to seminary. That’s God’s secret growin’ at work.

So, take heart, precious soul. It doesn’t all depend on you. God is ‘a-movin’, even when the soil looks still.

Father, thank You that as I scatter the seeds of Your Word, Your love, and Your kindness, You are the One who brings the growth. Help me trust Your timin’, Your process, and Your provision. Make me a faithful sower and a patient watcher. I pray this in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

Now go on out there, friend, and shine bright. Don’t hide your light like a possum pretendin’ to play dead. God planted you on purpose, and He’s ‘a-growin’ somethin’ real good in and for you.

With joy,

Gwen