I was multitasking: enjoying sipping on a hot cuppa tea, munching on a brown sugar Pop-Tart, and listening to one of my favorite podcasts. I suppose you could add to the multiples by saying I was heart-searching too. All this, first thing in the morning too!
The person being interviewed on the podcast made the statement that we’ve all heard a million-and-one times, “The grass always looks greener on the other side.” Familiar with that one? I know I’ve used this old saying many times in lifetime and will probably use it much more often now.
However, when we use it, we often speak about a situation or place looking more appealing from afar. When we actually walk onto that “greener” grass, we often find it has just as many anthills and grubs as where we were originally. All the time spent admiring and wishing for it had simply been a mirage of sorts — definitely a waste of time.
Confession time. I’m the girl who, in springtime, has a deep desire to find some secret place to lay down in the grass and simply be still. I always imagine the experience to be most calming, cool and refreshing, and the aroma that of a newly cut yard.
Today, this nugget of truth was dropped into my spirit. And...right on time. God has a pretty good trek record for doing that sort of thing!
What if I told you the grass IS greener on the other side?
Seriously!
Let me explain. During life we go through difficult seasons, and we often wonder if they’ll ever come to a close. We anticipate the grass bursting forth again into a luscious, green carpeting where we can simply lay down and rest. Nobody enjoys these rough seasons; but we cannot expect a life without them, can we? We sure would like to give it a try though, huh?
If only we could somehow make it to greener grass! If only we didn’t have to deal with this issue, or that. If we could simply skip this page of life, or erase part of it and write an alternate storyline. If we could just be over “there” on that hill where all appears to be nice and refreshing.
If only.
Again, we know the old saying and
actually might question our logic, right? We might be tempted to give up hopes for a better day.
Spoiler alert!!! Don’t lose hope.
God promises, if we do our part, He will do His. He has promised to work all things together for the good. He has promised that there is always a way of escape. He has promised that He will bring us through whatever situation we face, even floods and fires.
We WILL walk into greener places. It’s a promise - if we won’t grow weary before we arrive.
I’m not particularly speaking of Heaven here either, so don’t think you already know the answer. sure, it will be greener there, but it can happen here too, on this side of glory.
Okay, here’s the answer. We WILL arrive “there” and the grass WILL be greener. How? The answer is found in the unfolding of our journey. When we come out of a trying, undesired season we are stronger, wiser, and have yet another testimony of God’s faithfulness. We have a story to share with others, to bring them hope — and we have greater compassion toward them during their hard seasons. We see God in new ways as He has proven Himself to us as our Provider, Peace, Counselor, and on and on I could go. Finally, we are more grateful and appreciative of what God has done in and around us to bring us to “here”.
Simply put, by the time we make it to the greener grass we desire, we are changed. He has rearranged our perspective and grown within us more endurance and perseverance. So, you see, the grass IS actually greener on the other side of our bad seasons. Isn’t that wonderful news?
Just remember, He maketh us to lie down in green pastures...for His namesake. I actually can lay in that field of green and rest in Him...and you can too. Hold on, it won’t always be this way, my friend.
Greener grass ahead!
*Feel free to share with anyone who might need some encouragement today. Also, subscribe to get notified when I post from my porch again. Blessings!