Time for Truth

It’s hard to predict what will thrive and what won’t. A lush landscape can suffer the effects of drought before you see it. I wish I had a dollar for every time I suspected a plant wasn’t thriving but did nothing other than watch it succumb. Hoping a living thing will thrive offers little help.

My first tip for wannabe gardeners is usually this: Once plants look dry and brown, the damage is done; they can’t drink the water they need. A keen eye helps, but you must make time to know your garden’s true condition and act quickly; wishful thinking won’t help it thrive.

It’s similar with people. Leaving time for others day-to-day makes connecting easier. Once a neighbor’s life falls apart, they may be unable to receive your kindness. We tend to hide our true selves in crises. The roots of trust and friendship grow one chat, one friendly wave at a time as we get to know who and how people truly are.

Jesus told his disciples that if they knew and obeyed his Word, they would know the truth—of sin and his offer of true freedom from sin’s bondage. Without a deep and abiding knowledge of God, we can’t hope to understand who he is or how he works in the world. The time we spend in his Word opens our eyes to his truth and deepens our relationship with him.

If you miss early indications of others’ struggles, it’s likely not because you’re callous but because you’ve little time to notice what state they’re in before things fall apart. Leaving space for the possible chat, taking some garden vegetables to those who’ve gone quiet can be a spring in the desert to a parched soul along the way. They’ll be more receptive to the truth you share, truth that will set them free.

Every situation you will face with others will be unique. Will you have the patience to wait, observe, and recognize the direction where the Lord wants to take you? Set aside time for God’s Word to absorb the timely truths he wants you to share with others.

Jesus, open my eyes and attention to others’ realities—not to exploit but to nurture and nourish with truth that will set them free. Amen.