I walked down the road on this beautiful, sunny, winter morning. The tree branches swayed in the breeze–empty and barren. While I see the green of grass, it's struggling to maintain its vibrance in this cold, dry season. As I look around, I see clear signs of winter—even though we don't often see snow. The squirrels are busy collecting things that have fallen from the trees and lay waiting for their consumption. The deer are on the prowl looking for something to eat and finding alternatives to fresh greenery, plucking dried looking leaves from low shrubbery. While the sun is bright, there is a lack of color.
In just a few weeks, my region of the world will begin to come alive. Buds will form on the trees, shrubbery will begin filling in, and lawns will begin to take on their fresh look of emerald green. Life takes on the colors of green—a deep, pleasing green as plant after plant sprout forth tender, new shoots. These are the thoughts that crowded my mind as I walked this morning, longing for spring and the warmth of sunshine on my face. But what quickly came to mind was another Tender Plant—the One we read of in Isaiah 53:2:
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, And as a root out of the dry ground (KJV) :
There is something so pleasing about a tender plant—soft, new and fragile. It's most vulnerable in this stage of newness and needs care for it to thrive and grow hearty. To think of our Messiah as this tender plant brought many thoughts to mind. I appreciated this quote from Wayne Jackson for christiancourier.com:
"a “tender plant,” attempting to survive in “dry ground” seems like an unlikely situation. In reality, however, such was by divine design! The text is intended to emphasize that what appears impossible with men, certainly is not with God."
We can appreciate that our tender plant—Jesus, did in fact thrive and grow and complete the mission God sent Him to accomplish. How about us? As new believers, we also were tender plants—plants that needed intentional nutrients in order for growth, maturity and completing the purpose God has for each of us. Pouring in God's Word, prayer, fellowship with other Christians, using our gifts for the benefit of our local church, humble service and obedience to His leading help us to grow and mature. But I love the thought that while we are growing and maturing, we still want to remain tender—pliable to His molding and shaping.
In my area of the world, August is generally a dry month. The once tender plants of spring are now deprived of water and scorched from the heat of summer. They are no longer a vibrant green, they are more of a yellowish-brown. Brittle to the touch, they easily break from the summertime conditions of the South. I see lessons in this, too—that the pressures and temptations of this world can harden us. While there is goodness to a hearty plant, a plant that is dried up of needed nutrients is on the brink of death. We want to remain rooted in Christ—the only sure way to stay thriving and tender in the harshness of a sinful world.
Maybe you're also in a place where you're longing for spring. Winter—while it has its own unique beauty—can seem long and at times, dreary. But God is faithful and the seasons will change as they do each year, cycling from spring to summer, then fall and winter. But no matter what life season you may be in, may each of us remain tender—unchanged by the harsh realities of the world. May we, like Jesus, remain rooted in the Father, seeking to complete the mission He has for each of us. May we stay strong and connected, allowing Him to work in us, and through us. And may we enjoy the blessings of each lesson learned—even those that caused us pain. May we be known by others as being tender, faithful, and actively thriving in the work God has for us.
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