In the spring, as we plant seeds, we know a little miracle will take place.

In the spring, as we plant seeds, we know a little miracle will take place.

A kernel of life is put into the darkness, to sprout and struggle through dirt up towards life and light. To grow, flourish, bloom in the radiance of the sun.

Our lives can be like that. The struggles, the pain, the darkness of grief, fear and loneliness can enter into our lives at any point. They are the dark soil that is necessary for our growth. We must push through them towards a resolution, towards light, towards God.

Without such soil, we wouldn't ever really know what we are made of. Without such soil, our faith would be feeble and weak. Without such soil, we wouldn't find out who the helpers are in our lives, that stick with us through the struggles and help us grow into new life.

Sometimes the darkness feels overwhelming; sometimes the pain is deep and the burdens are heavy. But you can do this, my friend. You can turn this struggle into a blessing, God can turn it into a miracle.

Will you trust Him to help you through the necessary trauma that precedes all growth? For when we stop growing, when we shrink from any change, we remain the kernel buried in the soil, inert.

When we say though, that we will use these lessons, this experience, these pains, those losses to grow from, to become stronger from, to give God the glory through....then we find that when we aren't expecting it at all, we'll burst through the soil into new life. Then our lessons and our struggles can be used to help teach and comfort others, and to help them through their bouts of being in the dark.

Remember the seed, and how it must grow. If you are in the process of having to muddle through the toils of life, remember that light is just up ahead. Keep going, you'll make it, and we're here to help.

May you be blessed, and may you be a blessing unto someone else,