Recently, while I was visiting a friend's church, her pastor said something that struck home for me. He had the congregation open up to Genesis and read about Eden. He pointed out how God first planted a garden for men to dwell in before placing Adam there. God took on the role of a gardener and prepared the place Adam and Eve belonged, making sure it was suitable, before ever bringing them to that spot. God cares about us that much; He wants the very best for us and will dedicate time to preparing it, even when, while waiting, we may not see or think He is doing much. Though the pastor mainly related this message to finding a good church home that God had especially prepared for you, I saw the message running deeper than that.
It's something I could find comfort in, the idea that the Gardener is taking all the time He needs to ensure the garden is exactly as I need it before He ever places me there. Life is full of waiting, and it's easy to get discouraged when we are in a transitional period of life. In those times we know we aren't exactly where we belong, that there is something more that God wants us to do, somewhere else He wants us to be, but we haven't reached that place yet. It can be so difficult to be patient and wait on Him. We want God to place us there now. We want to head there immediately and walk in the garden with Him, tend His plants to fulfill our purpose in life, and enjoy the blessings He has prepared for us.
But gardening takes time and care. Do we really want to rush the Gardener? He's planting the trees, nurturing the plants, plucking up the weeds, watering the soil, allowing the blossoms to grow and mature until the garden has reached its height of beauty. He is taking His time so that when He brings us to our place, we are showered with blessings we don't deserve and can better serve Him. We may not see all the work He is doing, but someday, when the time is right and we come to our "garden", we will understand He was thinking about us all along, even when it felt like He wasn't. He is out there "gardening" as we ask Him for answers or signs. He is working for us when we think we're not getting any responses. As we wait, He will teach us to be patient and lean on Him. We learn to grow in trust and our relationship with Him, until, when the garden is ready, we are able to step out in faith to follow Him and fully appreciate the blessings and wonders He has prepared especially for us.
