Lessons from Sunflowers

A good friend once prayed for me and shared a great concept about sunflowers. The bright and beautiful flowers that often stand above the growth around them. She shared that as long as the sunflower is looking up towards the sun, it will thrive. As soon as its head drops, however, it quickly withers away and dies. This was a metaphor for the need for us to keep our focus on God and to not look at those around us and in comparison. Since then, sunflowers have been an important manner in which God speaks to me.

I even had some sunflowers pop up in my back yard after I moved in. The past couple of days, however, their blooms have drug closer and closer to the ground. They have been hit by non stop rain and they can only be feeling the pressure beating down on them. Much as, at times, we feel the pressures and difficulties of life hitting down on us. Sure we can take some of it . . . holding our heads high and keeping a direct gaze on Jesus. But i would venture to say that after two months or weeks of hard rain it becomes more and more difficult. Sure we still have Jesus in our hearts and we know that we have the victory but our earthly muscles can no longer withstand the rain. This is what i saw in my sunflowers. After two days of non-stop and hard rain they were no longer able to hold their heads up. They wilted and fell closer and closer to the ground. Did they admit defeat? We aren’t supposed to do that right? Or maybe they let go of their own strength, knowing that if they did not bend they would break. Maybe that would be helpful when we are in those times. When you just cant fight anymore, collapse into the arms of the one who fights for yu and saves you. But at the same time keep your hearts focus on him. Even if you cant look up. Trust that the God who causes growth and life will sustain you. I use these sunflowers to remind me of this. And as you would imagine two days later with sun shining the sunflowers are back stronger than ever gazing oh so intently at the sun with even more beauty. Our God is a good and faithful God!