Planner, Provider, and Purpose-giver

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. Acts 17: 24-27

As someone who enjoys gardening, I start out growing different vegetables in my basement under grow lights well before it is time for planting in New England. I start tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and some herbs from seed, and provide heat, light, water, and nutrients so they can germinate and thrive. These seedlings turn into large plants that I will then plant and hope that they “bear fruit” to serve their purpose as nutritious food. The fact that God designed each of us, unique and beautiful in our own way, to live and carry out our purpose at a set time and place in this world is truly a profound thought. Not only did the God who created all of heaven and earth specifically schedule each of our times here on earth, but he promises over and over in the Bible that he will provide what we need. “He himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else” Acts 17:25

While we are designed and designated to fulfill our purpose now, it is clear that God wants us to seek him and partner with him to grow and understand him more. We need to live and grow in the light that he provides from his word and reach out in communication with our Creator through prayer. Plants that don’t get enough light, water, or nutrients from the soil can wither and die, not fulfilling their purpose. As much as I know God has a purpose for me in the here and now, am I being fed the right food? As much as diet and physical health is important, in this case I mean spiritual food. Am I reaching out to find the One who is not far from me to be my provider each day? We can attempt to make it on our own, but we need partnership with the Master Gardener, the God who made the world and everything in it. We need to be watered, fed, have weeds pulled here and there, pests controlled, and offer what we were made to produce in our appointed time. Let’s look to the One who planned it all out. Let’s rely on the Creator, the ultimate provider of everything. And let’s truly take the time to partner with Him to live out each of our purposes, always pointing back to the One who made each of us for such a time as this.