Blooming Where We're Planted

There are seasons in life when God asks us to step into something new, or sometimes, something old that now feels foreign. Returning to the elementary teaching world after a thirteen-year hiatus has been one of the hardest and most stretching things I’ve ever done. Everything looks different, and in many ways, I am different. Yet, in the midst of the overwhelm, I’ve sensed God whispering a gentle invitation: “Bloom where I have planted you.”

God Meets Us in the “Soil” of Transition

I’ll be the first to admit that I do not like change (unless it’s a fresh paint color in my home or a new piece of gorgeous furniture) If it has to do with my routine… no thank you!  It’s because transitions are rarely comfortable. They often feel like being uprooted from familiar ground and placed into soil we didn’t choose.  But Scripture reminds us that God’s presence is not dependent on our stability.  HE is the one who establishes us.

“The Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your soul in drought… You shall be like a well-watered garden.” - Isaiah 58:11 (NIV)

Even on the days when the classroom feels overwhelming, when expectations pile up, or when doubts whisper that I’m not the same teacher I once was, God is faithfully watering my spirit. He is meeting me in the hallway, in the early morning 4 am preparations, and in the quiet moments after my students have left. His nearness is not limited by my confidence; it flows into the cracks where I feel least capable. And at times… those cracks seem like large crevices!  Even still… He fills them. 

Planted on Purpose

It’s easy to look at a challenging season and wonder if you misheard God. Yet He assures us that He is intentional with where He places us.

“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree… planted in the house of the Lord… they will still bear fruit in old age.” - Psalm 92:12–14 (NIV)

To be planted means God personally chose the ground beneath you. Wow! Let that sink in.  You are not here by accident. The places we walk into each day, the students/people whose lives we touch, the staff we interact with - this is soil God has prepared for all of us! And in my case, even after years away, He has chosen to bring me back because there is fruit that only I can bear in this season. I’m SO encouraged when I dwell on this thought!  What an awesome God we serve!

Strength for Each Day

When the days and weeks feel especially heavy, I’m so thankful that God’s mercies find me as soon as my mind and heart start to prepare each morning.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed… His mercies are new every morning.” — Lamentations 3:22–23 (NIV)

We don’t have to bloom in our own strength. That’s impossible!  We cannot do it alone! If we simply show up with a willing heart, God will supply us with what we lack. He will strengthen our hands, steady our minds, and fill our hearts with compassion that can only come from Him.

Blooming - Slowly but Surely

Blooming doesn’t happen overnight. It happens petal by petal, day by day. It happens when you show up even when you feel unsure. It happens when you love students through difficult moments. It happens when you choose joy in the small victories, grace in the setbacks, and reliance on God in the uncertainty.

If you are going through changes just like me right now, or if you’re just not sure that you are where you’re supposed to be, here is my best advice:

Don’t simply try to survive this transition or place in time – CHOOSE to GROW through it.

And as you do, God will be shaping you, equipping you, and using you in ways you may not fully see yet. But HE sees. And He smiles over the garden He is cultivating in you.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for planting me exactly where I need to be in this season. When the days feel heavy and the transition feels overwhelming, remind me that You are with me- guiding, strengthening, and watering my spirit. Help me to trust that You are growing something beautiful in me and through me. Give me grace for each moment, joy in the small victories, and courage to keep showing up. May I bloom where You have planted me, for Your glory. Amen.