How Does Your Garden Grow?

September 1, 2020 Georgia Tanner

For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

Isaiah 31:10-11 NIV

Full of hopefulness early this summer, we planted two tomato plants in pots near the sandbox. I imagined the two-year-olds gleefully picking the cherry tomatoes with their still sandy fingers as an afternoon snack. I think perhaps Barrett got to pick one, maybe two. Otherwise, the green fruit never turned red; the vines which had held such promise drooped from perhaps too much rain and not enough sun.

“Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?” Now isn’t that interesting that our Mary of the nursery rhyme is contrary? Difficult, disagreeable, doing the opposite of what is expected. My friend Merriam-Webster describes her as temperamentally unwilling to accept control or advice. Does her attitude affect the fruit of her garden? Was she intending to grow silver bells and cockle shells, and pretty maids all in a row? Or was her intended crop something more nourishing?

I am reminded that our attitude not only affects our fruit – what we produce – but it also affects the people around us. I am reminded that Jesus did not do many miracles in his hometown because of the doubters and the neighbors with their spirit of unbelief. Does the state of my spirit affect the ones I love, the ones I gather with? I think it does.

Are you like me in this season of discontent; determined to grow rich red tomatoes but finding yourself with a tangle of scraggly vines? Determined to stay positive and productive but feeling unmotivated and overwhelmed with loss, staring into a deep void? The last time I looked, we were in April and today we struggle past August and stare out into an empty September.

And I think most of us tell ourselves this little mantra: “I have to stop looking at, listening to the news…” Because it is all bad news. The world around us seems to be going to hell in a handbag.

Read, if you have a Bible, the words of the prophet Isaiah. Chapter 61. It begins with the glorious purpose that Jesus claimed for himself as he read the scriptures that jump-started his ministry in that synagogue in Nazareth. He claimed the role of the anointed one – filled with the Spirit of the Lord – come to proclaim good news for the poor and liberty for the captives and sight for the blind. We often roll up the scroll here and take a seat, hope-filled with the fulfillment of these promises.

But today in our world of waiting, I encourage you – I encourage myself to keep reading until the end. Underline verse 10, verse 11. It is the antidote to contrary Mary’s garden.

“I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God.”

Why?

“For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

Isn’t that glorious? Isn’t that beautiful? And here is the outcome of the garden that God plants – seeds hidden, waiting in the dark rich soil:

“For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.”

Hold on, my friends. God is not done with us. The ways of the world do not own us. We are here for the pleasure and glory of One much greater. One who has saved us for Himself. One who covers us in His robe of righteousness. One who gives us the mind of a priest. One who gives us the beauty of a precious jewel.

Shake off your frustration and disappointment. Move that drooping tomato plant to a brighter spot – look for the sunlight. Don't listen to Mary quite contrary with her doubt, mistrust, criticism, and bitterness. Plant yourself in God's rich soil of praise and righteousness, look for His light – and grow.

Mary Mary Shackles (Praise You)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7eZD3TKn_M

In the corners of mind
I just can't seem to find a reason to believe
That I can break free
Cause you see I have been down for so long
Feel like the hope is gone
But as I lift my hands, I understand
That I should praise you through my circumstance

Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just want to praise you
I just want to praise you
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I'm gonna praise you
I'm gonna praise you

Everything that could go wrong
All went wrong at one time
So much pressure fell on me
I thought I was gon lose my mind
But I know you want to see
If I will hold on through these trials
But I need you to lift this load
Cause I can't take it anymore

Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just want to praise you
I just want to praise you
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I'm gonna praise you
I'm gonna praise you

Been through the fire and the rain
Bound in every kind of way
But God has broken every chain
So let me go right now

Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just want to praise you
I just want to praise you
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I'm gonna praise you
I'm gonna praise you

Songwriters: Erica Atkins-Campbell / Trecina Atkins-Campbell / Warryn Campbell