When it seems all the beauty is falling down

I'm reaching into the archives for this post from an April several years ago. It's a reminder of how even the difficult things can be used by God for good. 

Rain moving in,so late yesterday I captured a neighbor’s stunning ornamental cherry tree,because I knew, the forecast deluge would force the blooms from the tree.

Sure enough, in asteady downpour this morning, the ground grows pink from a blanket of petals.

So, I’m talkingto a family member about a fender-bender she was involved in yesterday--the verdict on the ticket amount yet to bedetermined as well as other fallout like insurance rates.

“So much moneygone,” she says. She splits her time between school and a part time job, andnow the money drains away.

Petals fallingdown.

A quote from Ann Voskamp comes to mind,“Can it be that, that which seems to oppose the will of God actually is used ofHim to accomplish the will of God? That which seems evil only seems so becauseof perspective, the way the eyes see the shadows. Above the clouds, light neverstops shining.”

Can it be?

As we look acrosslife at all the petals falling down—the dreams derailed, lives seemingly cutshort, relationships shattered, sicknesses borne, and financial reversals, westudy hard the words in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God worksfor the good of those who love him, who have been called according to hispurpose.”

All things?

All things.

What we know isthat no one was injured in the accident yesterday, and that is worth aninfinite number of ticket amounts. In fact, the cars were barely damaged.Another praise going up.

What we often don’tknow is how God is working behind the scenes in this situation and others, andwe may never know in this life. As we continually offer our prayers, we trust thatwhat God has allowed, God intends to use.

If my neighbor’stree were a fruit bearing cherry tree rather than an ornamental one, what we’dsee next would be tiny cherries forming. Fruit follows the falling petals. So, it isfor us, that if we cling to God, even when it seems all the beauty is fallingdown, we’ll find fruit follows.

The rain peltsthe roof right now, but as one beauty fades, it gives way to another of greenleaves and lush grass made full by the mulch of petals falling down.

Beverly Varnado's most recent book is In Search of the Painted Bunting, a middle grade historical from Elk Lake Publishing, #1 in new releases in its category. She is also the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.comTo sign up for her newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/dHNdsX Beverly Varnado copyright 2023