What Lies Beneath

2 P & P Weekly Blog for 16-22 September 2023

Tiny red bugs under big green leaves

One day, we were hiking at a park when we encountered these tall wildflowers. As they moved with the wind, we made an interesting observation. The front of the leaves are green, shiny, and without any blemish. But “what lies beneath?” Oodles of tiny red bugs! Doug and I both said, “Eww,” simultaneously. They were not attached to every leaf—but where they had started to cluster—they were found in droves.

Is any spiritual lesson starting to form? I had a few things come to mind. 1) Hurt that is not surrendered to the Lord can multiply. 2) Disappointments, rejection, loss, and difficulties can cause lasting and increasing anxiety and anger. 3) Some habits, once begun, can draw you into sinful behaviors.

But the same is also true in reverse. 1) If we feed on God's Word, our knowledge of Him increases. 2) Our relationship with Him builds and deepens to increase our faith. 3) Memorizing His Word helps us refrain from sin and encourages us in every situation. 4) Having other Christians around us—reinforces all of these.

What lies beneath—in the mind, in the heart, within our true selves—determines whether the things that stick to us—bring negative or positive results. What a powerful lesson from creation and the Creator of this wildflower (while we were walking in an open field). What a wonderful God we serve, Who teaches us how to walk closely with Him—so that we yield green, vibrant, shiny, pure, and holy lives.

These bugs could only be seen once the wind blew. It’s only in adversity that God often displays the foundation of our souls to us—so that we can be sure that “what lies beneath” is a sure foundation of His Word and presence daily.

“But you, beloved, build yourselves up on [the foundation of] your most holy faith [continually progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], pray in the Holy Spirit, and keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously and looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ [which will bring you] to eternal life. And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy but with fear, loathing even the clothing spotted and polluted by their shameless immoral freedom. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling or falling into sin, and to present you unblemished [blameless and faultless] in the presence of His glory with triumphant joy and unspeakable delight, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and power, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Jude 1:20-25 AMP

Dear Lord, we often see ourselves like shiny, green leaves. But You see what lies beneath the surface. You see what we are multiplying—reading Your Word, our prayers, our seeking Your presence. Help us also be real enough to examine any area of sin, hurts, or collections of negative emotions. Then teach us, Lord, to bring these to You—for removal—so that we can grow and thrive to give You honor and praise like these wildflowers that grew so straight and tall. Amen.

"What lies beneath”—within the heart—determines whether we pursue God, perceive His love for us, and grow in our faith to thrive so that others are drawn to Him—in droves.

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