We moved into our house in September of 2014. In the backyard was a rose bush. I had no idea what kind of rose bush it was, nor did I care too terribly much. My history with plants was not good.  By this time, I had killed every potted plant I ever had…including a cactus ….and bamboo.  Also, we had a 6 year old and a 4 year old; had just moved halfway across the country, and I was going from being a stay-at-home mom to working full-time again.  The rose bush wasn’t even a blip on my radar of priorities. Over the years, we’d mow and weed-eat around it. I think once we even trimmed it back after consulting with my mother-in law as to what time of year would be best for that. Other than that, it was not something I ever even thought about. 

 

Then on July 22nd, 2022 that all changed. 

 

 What’s my purpose? What am I here for? That morning I was asking God these very questions.  I had seen several possibilities of where I could get involved; but had yet to receive my marching orders, per say. That morning I was determined to spend time with God until I got an answer!  After whining and complaining about feeling useless much longer than I should’ve, I was tired of waiting and my pride was getting the best of me. I was certain I should be ‘doing something’ by now. Not just sitting on my laurels, as my grandma used to say. Utterly frustrated with waiting and the unknown, I actually said out loud, “So, God, what is it that You want me to do?”

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The first thing that popped up was ‘Clean out the rose bush’. Now how God speaks to each of us is unique, because He has made each of us unique. As our Creator, He knows how best to communicate with us, if we are willing to listen.

 

  Side note: You may wonder how I knew that was from God and not just some random thought I had. That’s an understandable question. In and of myself, I would NEVER give up my Saturday morning to clean out a rose bush. The simple fact that I had not done this even once in the 8 years we had lived with it is proof of that. And that, my dear reader, is how I know without a doubt; it was from God. Knowing it was God directing me didn’t stop me from having initial moments of doubt though. My doubts weren’t if God was speaking to me, but rather if I had heard Him right!

 

“Ummm….You want me to….what, Lord?”

“Clean out the rose bush.”

“Uh huh….the rose bush…..covered in vines and weeds.....in the backyard that no one ever sees?”

“Yes.”

“The one I had just been thinking about pulling out completely and burning?”

“Yes.”

“Okaaaayyy….and You want me to… clean... it... out….”

“Yep.”

“Right now?”

“Yes.”

“But what about spending time with You?

And what about finding Your purpose for me?”

“This is the answer.”

“.......Really?!?”

 

How I wish I could say I immediately threw on gloves and happily did what God asked.  I did not.  In all honesty, at this point I was even more frustrated than before when I had no answer!  Cleaning out a derelict rose bush was NOT what I had in mind when I sat down that morning to spend time with God and find out His plan or purpose for me. This couldn’t be right. Spending time with God meant sitting down to “be still”, reading the Bible, and praying; right?!?! This isn’t what I had asked for!  I was about to make yet another attempt at making sure I was hearing Him correctly when….

 

“Do you trust Me?”

 

“I am really trying to, Lord.

I just don’t understand how cleaning out a rose bush could be spending time with You. 

Or how it could answer my question about Your purpose for my life.”

 

“Are you willing to do something that doesn’t make sense,

trusting that I am good and I love you?”

 

At that moment, I had a choice to make. Trust God and do what He was asking me to do even though it didn’t make sense….or continue to doubt Him, possibly missing out on what He had for me. God then brought to mind His resume, per se. Did it make sense for Abram to leave all he knew for an unknown place? Or for Joshua and the Israelites to march around Jericho 7 times every day for a week blowing horns and banging on drums? Did it make sense for Mary to give birth to Jesus, the King of kings and God's own Son, in a barn in a little known town?

 

God’s plans don’t always make sense….at first. With Abram’s obedience, God made an entire nation.  On the 7th day of the Israelites marching, blowing horns, and banging drums; God brought the walls of Jericho tumbling down.  And Jesus was born exactly where he was supposed to be born for the shepherd and wise men to find him. Plus His birthplace was also to fulfill what was prophesied about him hundreds of years earlier! Thinking back on each of these also reminded me that God faithfully answered each one of them as they trusted Him and did what He asked them to do. Now it was my turn.

 

“Lord, if this is what You want me to do this morning….I’m willing….Let’s go clean out the rose bush.”

 

And I did. Even though I had whined and complained and struggled with doubt, God patiently and graciously stuck with me. He also faithfully answered my prayers, just as He did thousands of years ago. He truly is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It wasn’t a burning, but God taught me quite a lot by cleaning out that rose bush! 

 

Follow The Rose Bush Series for what He taught me that day.