Scanning through my journal a few days ago I found an entry that struck me as a good blog post.  I’m not sure why I didn’t write about it before except that at the time it seemed so directed at me that I wasn’t ready to share it.  

In the fall I had raked up the leaves in the yard and heaped them in a pile to the side of the yard.  The next spring when I was making up my garden beds I scooped them into my wagon and hauled them over to the  4×4 wood boxes.  Just under the top of the semi-composted leaves I discovered a sprouted walnut seed.  I had never seen a sprouted walnut seed.  It looked so big compared to the little alfalfa sprouts I buy at the grocery store.  It struck me as quite beautiful, the shell had cracked open and the roots reached down into the soil while the green leaves of the newly sprouted walnut tree reached for the sunlight.  So new and fragile and yet it’s future potential to stand as a tall, strong tree someday already evident.  It crossed my mind that the walnut could not sprout until the shell had cracked open.  Once the shell cracked open it no longer had it’s hard shell of protection.  It’s new life was now exposed to elements it could not control.  But the tree couldn’t grow and become what it was intended to be until it’s hard outer shell was removed.  I felt as if God were telling me that I needed to remove my hard outer shell.  He knows I like to wear it because of the feeling of safety it gives me, a feeling of control.  But He also knows that I can not grow into the person He created me to be if I fearfully hold onto my outer shell intent on keeping myself safe.  

It is only when I let go of my self-made shield of protection that I grow up into the life God created for me.  With my hard outer shell gone, my new life reaches for His light and I put my roots down in His fertile soil.  God created me to be most fulfilled when I give back to Him the life He gave to me.  If the walnut would have held it’s shell tightly closed, it’s true beauty would never have been revealed, it’s purpose left unfulfilled.  

Today is a good day to let go of the fear of God’s plan for your life.  Today is a good day to let go of your flimsy, imagined control of your life.  Today is a good day to live in the light of God’s love and protection.    If you wonder what to do with your life, your first step is to give it all to God, after that He has the plan.  “Seek ye first the kingdom of God…” (Matt. 6:33)  Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…” (Jeremiah 1:5)  “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord…”  (Jeremiah 29:11)  It is only when you fully give up that you will finally live up to your true potential.