A couple years ago I tried to transplant 2 hydrangea plants. I made the mistake of putting one in the direct sunlight in what would be the hottest part of the day. The poor plant would wilt every single day, and then in the morning it would be a little happier. I thought to myself that if I didn’t transplant it to a place that had more shade in the afternoon, the plant wouldn’t make it. So I moved it by the other plant, and as I cared for it, it started to thrive. Last year both plants were doubled in size, and although they didn’t bud flowers, it looks like this year they will. This brings me to the importance of being rooted in Christ, so that we can bear the fruit of the Spirit.
What the Holy Spirit does…
These days have been hard. There have been moments that I have felt like that plant who wilted in the summer heat, struggling to survive without the proper care. But God is always so good when He has us in the perfect place in scripture that helps us navigate the path forward. This week I found myself in Romans 8:26-27. It that says that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness, and intercedes for us in accordance to God’s will when we don’t know what to pray.
And then we get to 8:28. In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, and have been called according to His purpose.
In all things…
I am not sure I have noticed these verses as a whole before. But we see that when this verse says “in all things”… that means He even works our weakness for our good, and His glory.
What beautiful promises here. And I love that right before Jesus was betrayed, when He was agonizing in the garden, after praying take this cup from me, but nevertheless, not my will, but Yours be come, an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened Him. We have this example in Jesus. That even though He was all powerful, He was still human.
In that moment Jesus wasn’t strong on His own. And like Him, we don’t become strong on our own. There are times that like Jesus, we need to be strengthened as well. And we have the promise that His joy is our strength. That joy and strength are found in His dwelling place. And the Holy Spirit dwells in us.
We will always have the strength we need. Because God is good, and He doesn’t leave us lacking. The Holy Spirit is interceding for us. We can trust in that good promise, from our good Father.
The Holy Spirit is interceding for you.
These verses don’t remind us that the Holy Spirit will help us in our weakness, they assure us that it will help us in our weakness. It says that the Holy Spirit will help (or take hold of us) in our times when we lack strength.
Last week, it felt like a truck hit me as I was confronted with truth. A truth that broke my heart, leaving me feeling “stuck”. I didn’t know know how to proceed, because I felt too weak and incapable of moving forward at all.
We can remember that we can do (actual translation is “endure”) all things in Christ who gives us strength.
Our strength doesn’t come from our own efforts. But I remember when I thought that it did. And how the stronger I tried to become, the weaker I actually was.
The importance of being rooted in Christ.
I love that with Jesus, the pressure of trying to walk in our own strength is taken off of us.
This reminds me of the hydrangea plant. I had to plant it in good soil, to give it the best chance of surviving. The plant didn’t grow on its own. It was just still in the good soil, soaking up water, that made it strong enough to grow.
The only thing that will help us grow through the Holy Spirit in our weakness, and all things, is abiding in Christ. Rooted, in the word of God.
No our strength doesn’t come from our efforts. Our strength, in all things comes from only Jesus.
This is a beautiful refreshing truth, that I needed this week. And a truth that I hope encourages you if you are in a place of weakness.
