Rest and Reset: A 30-Day Devotional to Revive JoySample

Grow like a Cedar

Cultivating a life of faith takes time. It involves a process that often includes separation, a brief period of isolation, and growth that happens in the dark. I am often reminded of Jesus’ words in John 12:24, KJV, which say, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” This is contrary to our human nature. To imagine that the only way to become fruitful is to go into the ground—a dark, isolated space where you can’t see the sunshine or the conditions around you—only feeling the moisture that seeps in from time to time, reminds us that we are not forgotten.

The farmer is indeed at work. For this corn, the process takes about 5-7 days before the seed germinates. But those days can feel brutal to an unsuspecting seed that hopes to flourish someday. Jesus likened this process to our lives as believers. We must deny ourselves—our old nature, desires, and inclinations—to follow Him in all His glory.

The Cedars, like corn, develop over time as well, but this process takes much longer. According to reports, the cedar tree reaches approximately 20 feet in height in roughly 20 years, but it takes a total of 40 to 70 years to mature fully. Its roots extend deep into the ground long before reaching their peak because of the many years it will live and thrive; there must be a deeply rooted foundation. The storms it endures, the intense heat for months on end, and all the elements contribute to its stability. God is fully aware of this and has prepared its longevity by first going deep. The Lord takes us through a similar process.

Are you in a season where you feel as though God is digging deep? Maybe you are experiencing flashbacks from your past that you thought you had overcome, which have triggered you in unexpected ways. Or perhaps a cancer diagnosis for you or a family member has resurfaced and has shaken your faith in God's ability as a healer. Maybe the relationship you had fully believed would be restored has not worked out, and you are left grappling with the resulting pain. No matter where you are or what has caused the stagnation of your growth, the Bible makes it clear: we must move forward. What you are going through could be the very trial that God intends to use as a spiritual growth spurts in Him. Maybe He is leading you into darkness so that you may experience the light of the height to which He is guiding you in your knowledge of Him.

To flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar, you must be planted in the house and courts of the Lord. You must be so confident in the finished work of the cross that no matter how God chooses to sanctify, purify, and make you fruitful, you trust the process of an eternally loving God.

God is faithful, and His plan for growth is certain. Let Him dig deep so that you can stand tall in Him.

Be encouraged.