From Provision to Potential

“I am telling you the truth: a grain of wheat remains no more than a single grain unless it is dropped into the ground and dies. If it does die, then it produces many grains.” ‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭24‬ ‭

I am but a grain of wheat and that is all I will ever stay unless I die.

I remember a message I saw or by Stephen Furtick about a seed. He made the comment “The provision is inside the seed. The protection is on the seed. And out of the seed will grow its potential.“

God created me from conception with the provision of everything He wanted to grow out of me. He provided that full potential in me from the very beginning. He is the creator after all. He knew everything I would need inside of me to end up with the final product He designed me for in life.

God is also the producer of growth. God doesn’t force me to grow. I can remain in the little seed packet all my life if that is what I chose to do. However, if I submit to the planting, the dying process He is the one that provides the environment for the growth.

I’m intrigued when I read about plants or flowers. Some are so versatile in their growth environments while others will only grow in limited environments. Some plants can withstand the heat and cold, or going without water for a long time. Others need a very specific regimen in order to survive. If they get in the wrong conditions even the healthiest of plants may not survive.

God has made each of us just as unique. He knows the perfect precise conditions in which we need to grow. He knows when we need a bigger container. He knows when we need pruning and exactly what to cut away. He knows when we need more heat. He knows when we need more water. He knows if we need shade or sunshine.

Here is the thing, I can want more favorable conditions, but God may not give me the conditions I want. God will give me what I need for me to grow. I may force through my own decisions and will a different environment, but God is going to keep trying to point me back to the environment I need. He wants the provision He placed inside of me to reach full potential. That is what He created me for.

He may need to strip away the things that I have used to protect me, because the protection will keep me from growing. The outer shell of a seed starts to break as a plant grows. When I refuse to drop the walls for fear of being hurt, when I continue to make excuses instead of stepping out, when I let fear and doubt keep me from obedience it is because I don’t trust God’s protection in the growth process.

The Bible tells us that it is God that makes things grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 1 Corinthians 3:7

So I can trust God with the growth process?

Can I be just a seed of provision willing to be planted by God?

Can I trust God with my protection as my outer shell is stripped away?

Can I be willing to die knowing that God wants something more out of my life?

Can I trust God while He grows the potential He placed within me knowing it may take more than a season?

Lord, I really do want to be OK with the dying to self and allowing You to strip away all the things that I have felt were protecting me. I want to trust that You can grow me in the conditions I need to release the full provision you have placed inside of me, even if they seem difficult. Help me get out of your way while You develop my full potential. In Jesus name Amen