Are You Trying to Adjust to a New Role?
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There’s a gardening proverb that goes like this: “The first year they sleep, the second year they creep, the third year they leap!”
This little adage is a reminder that you won't see much outward growth in the first year after a perennial (a plant that lives for multiple years) is planted. This is because they are putting all their effort into establishing a root system—an important but invisible task.
The second year you may see a bit more growth, but it’s in the third year, after the plant is firmly rooted and has fully acclimated to its new home, that you’ll really see a perennial start to flourish.
Isn’t this the truth in our own lives? Whenever we get “transplanted,” whether it’s into a new career, a new family (such as through marriage), a new church, or a new city, it takes time to adapt. The initial months in our new habitat revolve around putting down roots and adjusting to our new environment. It may feel as if all our energy is focused on just getting by, with little left over for anything else. Eventually, we start to get the hang of our new role but, often, it isn’t until after many months—maybe even several years—have passed that we really start to thrive.
In Psalm 92, David wrote, “The godly shall flourish like palm trees and grow tall as the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted into the Lord’s own garden and are under his personal care” (Psalm 92:12-13 TLB).
Whatever change you may be grappling with, whatever stage you may be in the midst of, take courage and know this: You are in God’s garden and you are under His personal care. If you’re in a more root-focused phase, have patience with yourself. Learning new ways of being and building new connections is hard work. Give yourself the space you need to put down roots, and trust that, in time, you will be leaping with new growth and bearing beautiful fruit for our King.
As always, you are in my thoughts and prayers, and I’d love to hear from you! You can contact me here!
In purpose and faith,
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