Stay in the Soil

"Think about yourself as a little seed planted in rich soil. All you have to do is stay there and trust that the soil contains everything you need to grow. This growth takes place even when you do not feel it. Be quiet, acknowledge your powerlessness, and have faith that one day you will know how much you have received." Henri Nouwen


It's impossible for one single metaphor or analogy to sum up the entire Christian life, but every so often you run across one that just sticks with you. While I know perfectly well that God is at work in my life, and that it's not about my efforts on his behalf but rather his efforts on my behalf, sometimes it's so hard to stay put. To really abide in him. I want to jump out of the dirt. Prove myself worthy of his love. But the expending of these energies just leaves me exhausted.

I know the responses God requires of me are simple: Submission. Obedience. Confession. Adoration. All my activity needs to be within those bounds. It's kind of like a never-ending circle, where I hear his voice, act in obedience and continually humble myself before him. I get off track when I fail to listen to his voice. When I act out of my own initiative, to please myself (even in doing good). Or worse, when I look back at what I think I've accomplished and heap accolades upon myself (or seek them from others), instead of keeping my eyes on him in praise and adoration.

It's hard to stay in the soil. But if I really believe he is sufficient and continually working out his plan in my life, I won't want to be anywhere else.