I was so young the first time I heard about late bloomers. I thought it was an illness. What I have come to understand is that people do not develop at the same speed: physically, mentally, and even spiritually. My son was a bit of a late bloomer in terms of his career. His first job was managing a tree business, followed by employment as a commercial real estate agent, and he ultimately ended up going to medical school 10 years after graduating from college. He helped me understand that there is nothing wrong with being a late bloomer; that late bloomers are often individuals who need to experience things in order to develop and ascertain their interests and talents.
Yesterday in my garden, I noticed several of my limelight hydrangeas blooming long after their limelight friends were withering. Gazing at them, I wondered why they bloomed so much later than the others. The conditions for all plants were the same.
When we think we are falling behind, it is easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves with others. Why has their career taken off and mine is static? Why do I lack parenting skills that others seem to have? We can fall into this trap spiritually as well. You may find yourself asking why someone seems to understand Scripture so well, and you struggle to figure out why the Bible is so difficult to understand. It is easy to compare our walk with others.
But God…
He has a unique plan crafted for each of our lives. He is not sleeping on the job or fretting that you are behind. He is watching as you bloom, as you grow in Him, and knows your timeline.
When I founded the ministry of Drawing Near to God, I had big dreams. Some God dreams. Some my own dreams. But what I discovered as God’s plan unfolded, He was always there cheering me on. When I felt like a failure, He reminded me that I am His and that what I called failure was often an issue of timing.
Friends, we never fall behind when we cling to Jesus. My sense as I write is that some of you reading this have spent more time wondering how you can catch up rather than seeing that God has held you back in order for you to fully bloom in another season. If you bloom now, you will have a rush of success. But if you wait on His timing, your blooms will last a lifetime. Some things take time.
This is the 25th year of the founding of Drawing Near to God Ministry based in Mount Pleasant, SC. God has undoubtedly been faithful all of these years, and yet He has chosen this season to be the most fruitful. As for me, I have learned that the biggest, brightest flowers may peak and fall off, but the long-lasting ones may bloom later and remain stronger.
If you are in a season of waiting, a season of wondering why everyone seems to get ahead of you, remember that winning the race is not the goal. It is the steady pace of trusting the Lord for each day, allowing His plans to unfold His way. Life is so much more fun when we simply let go of our expectations and allow God to enfold us in His plans.
