5 Ways Gardening Can Bring You Closer to God
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It’s that time of year again when school is out and the harvest season is coming. Gardening is a hobby and skill that many people decide to take up in the summer. Whether it is one small flower plant or a whole vegetable garden, there are so many beautiful spiritual lessons that can be learned from a garden.
Gardening reminds us of the deep dependence that we have on God. We are in need of His grace. We are in need of His help. He is our Creator and He knows what is best for us. When we are tempted to become self-reliant in life, and we go to a garden, we are reminded of the work and care it takes for plants to grow and produce fruit. It is a process, and it comes by way of the Gardener. The plant is fully reliant on having its needs met, just like we are called to be fully dependent on the Lord in all things. He is in control and we are not.
One of the most beautiful Scripture passages is found in John 15. Jesus describes how He is the True Vine and we are the branches. If we remain in Him, we will bear fruit. As a person gardens, it becomes clear that the different parts of the vegetable plant – the vine, bush, or fruit tree – are reliant on the base.
Christ is our foundation. As a person deadheads a flower or a plant, it becomes clear that there will be no harvest if the branches do not get the proper nutrients from the base and roots. Jesus helps us to know that without Him, there is nothing good in us to produce. It is only by His help that we are able to make eternal impacts and produce fruit in our lives.
It causes us to remember the fruit of the Spirit. Because believers have the gift of the Holy Spirit living inside, we are able to access love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Our lives can bear much fruit by His power within us, and others will see God working in us.
When a person has a garden and there is a good harvest, the produce and veggies are shared with others. This lesson of generosity helps us to ponder the joy of giving to others, sharing our spiritual gifts with them, and sharing the gospel. There are so many Scripture verses comparing the harvest of people ready to hear the good news of Christ out in the world.
As we think about the physical harvest and the delight we take in giving to others from it, may it reveal the greater need to share the hope of Jesus with them.
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