Playing in the Dirt: Devotions for Crazy Plant LadiesSample

Normal

“Just as You sent Me into the world, I also sent them into the world.”

JOHN 17:18 NASB

At what point does one cross over from liking plants a normal amount to crazy-plant-lady status? What is the threshold for having too many houseplants? (Just kidding, there’s no such thing as too many plants.) Is it even a number? Or is the description of a crazy plant lady someone whose pride and joy are in her blooms’ brilliance and the foliage of her fiddle leaf figs?

Whatever the definition, a common characteristic of crazy plant ladies is zeal. The energy and enthusiasm we exhibit for growing flourishing plants are unmatched. Nonplant people can question our love—“Plants don’t love you back”; our effort—“You spend how much time watering?”; and our unabating desire for just one more—“You don’t have enough plants already?”; but we shrug off their incomprehension, and we own our identity. We love our plants, and we’re proud to be crazy plant ladies.

When you put your faith in God and accept His Son, Jesus, as your Savior from sin and eternal death, there will be people who don’t understand. People may call you crazy.

Will you own your identity in Christ? Or will you back down and try to live a “normal” life?

Before he accepted Christ, the apostle Paul persecuted the church with zeal (Philippians 3:6). He didn’t understand how to trust God and thought people who did were crazy. He ridiculed them and hurt them. One day, Paul had a life-changing encounter with God and turned over a new leaf. Transformed from persecutor to proclaimer, Paul spent the rest of his life telling anyone and everyone about what God had done for him and how much he loved his Savior. People started calling him crazy.

Loving God doesn’t mean we follow the example of Paul exactly. We can find our own way to live out our love for Him, but we shouldn’t be surprised when some people don’t understand. Instead of shrinking back, let’s lean in and tell them what He has done for us.

God, thank You for saving me. I know the world thinks trusting You isn’t normal. Help me to be confident in Your love for me, and give me the courage to tell others about You so that they may come to trust You, too.