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May 29, 2023 18:30pm

You Will Bloom In The Right Time

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Aren’t lilies beautiful? Their bright colors and fragrant blossoms make them one of my favorite flowers. About 2 years ago, I planted 3 different lily plants. I planted them on the same day, they were all about the same size, and they were planted in the same ground. I didn’t do anything different from one plant to the next.

But, I was surprised when I saw my pink ones take off! They grew the tallest and bloomed first, boasting this beautiful, rosy pink color. Next, it was my orange ones. That deep, bright color of orange was so intense, like the sun setting in the desert.

The last to bloom, and my smallest plant, was my yellow lilies. Their golden petals finally began to open up, but it was weeks after the pink. But if we are being honest, they are my favorite. I love yellow, but this color is almost indescribable. It’s so deep and rich, and each petal looks and feels like velvet.

With everything the same, I was amazed at how they each bloomed at different times. I didn’t water one more than the other. I didn’t give one more fertilizer or use different soil to plant them. As far as I could tell, all the variables had been the same.

As we continue through the book of Luke, we are introduced to a man named Zacharias. He was a priest, married to Elizabeth, both of them old, and they were barren – without children.

In the Jewish culture, children were a sign of being blessed by God. So, even in all that they did right, in the people’s eyes, they were not blessed by the Lord. They had prayed for a child for many years, but it just never happened.

Once a year, the priests would come to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles and serve in the temple. Only one man would be chosen to go into the Holy place and burn incense to God. When the others would see the smoke rise from this, they would pray. This time, it was Zacharias that was chosen to go in alone. However, there was someone else in the Holy place that he did not expect.

“And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Luke 1:11-17

Can you imagine being Zacharias and hearing this from an angel? Would you rub your eyes and think you were dreaming? Maybe you’d pinch yourself to make sure. But there he was standing right in front of him declaring this wonderful news! All these years they had been without a child.

But, reality began to creep in. Zacharias began to question the angel as doubt surged through him.

“And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.” (Luke 1:18)

To Zacharias, their time to bloom had already passed. Everyone else had already had their children, many of which had grandchildren, too. So how could this be? While others had bloomed so beautifully, Zacharias and Elizabeth had never had the opportunity.

These two would finally have the blessing of the Lord in the eyes of the people. Their faithfulness to God never wavered through the years even though they remained barren. They were counted righteous to God and He would reward them.

It’s easy to compare ourselves to others. Especially when we see these amazing things in their lives that we desperately desire, but we remain without. Just as Zacharias and Elizabeth continued to be faithful to God, we must do the same.

Do you still trust Him? Will you still honor Him even if He doesn’t do what you think should be done?

The blessing will come and you will bloom, in the right time.