Hope Blossoms

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.   And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

—Romans 5:1-5 

I glanced over as I always do when I pass by—at the driveway lined with gorgeous cherry trees. This time I did a double take. What was that? What did that sign say? It looked like “Free Cherry Trees.” 

But I couldn’t go back. I would be late. I’ll check the next time I drive by. 

As I approached the home later in the week, I lifted my foot from the accelerator and zoomed in. Surely that’s what it said. “Free Cherry Trees.” 

How could I pass up an offer like that? I remembered the breath-taking beauty of the trees in bloom. 

I want them! I’ll take them!  

I pushed the shovel into the ground to loosen the sapling, but it barely scraped the surface. I tried again with a little more oomph—and made a little more progress. Try again. I did. And again it seemed nothing would break free. I was ready to give up. Then I remembered the flourishing trees in all their splendor and knew that was something I wanted to grace my yard. 

I continued. Pushing hard. Even using my feet and practically my entire body weight to nudge the shovel into the stubborn soil. Push. Shovel. Push. Shovel. Digging deeper each time. Lord, please give me the strength to loosen this tree from its hold. Finally, it broke free! 

And I moved onto the next one. And another. And another. 

When I arrived home, I thought about where to plant my treasures of hope. I imagined a garden sanctuary with a path meandering through the blossoming trees and a welcoming bench beneath the canopy of blooms. 

I spaced out the trees on a knoll overlooking the pond and in my mind I pictured a resplendent view. 

Years have passed since that day. Years of tending to my plantings of hope. Years of mulching, weeding, and watering. And in spite of it all, three trees have died. YET one remains, albeit two feet tall. And I have to admit that some days I allow doubt to creep in. Some days I start to give up on my garden. 

BUT today is not one of those days. Today I see a glimmer of hope. Today a magnificent blossom has broken free from its woody hold! A kernel has popped—and I rejoice!  

I will not give up. For hope does not disappoint. 

Where are you today? Who are you in this story? 

Are you the passerby, wondering about this Christian life? You’ve heard about salvation, but it sounds too good to be true. Free?  Yes! In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul explains, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (2:8-9). 

Salvation is a gift, and a gift is free. It is offered out to you, but you must receive it— just as the cherry trees were offered to me free of charge, but I had to accept them.

We don’t have to work for our salvation. When we confess our sins and believe in our heart that Christ died for us, we instantaneously receive forgiveness and the free gift of eternal life (1 John 1:9, Romans 10:9).

The work comes later. And perhaps that’s where you are.  Are you the Christian, working out your salvation (Philippians 2:12)? Are you trying to break free from your former life or the bondage of addiction? What I mean is, are you in the process of sanctification? In the Greek, “work out” means "to continually work to bring something to completion or fruition."  We do this by “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13). We “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). We look to the Word. We study and meditate upon it and allow it to transform both our mind and our heart (Romans 12:1-2). We dig deeper. We push on and shovel away the old life and our old way of thinking. We push and shovel and pray for strength. And in time, we break free as surely as a sapling breaking free from the ground. 

Or perhaps you’re the dreamer.  And many times you’ve been tempted to give up on your dream. Surely after three of my trees died, I was tempted to give up on mine. But then I remembered another story—after three days had passed, all hope seemed lost. BUT...you know the rest. 

Even if you’ve prayed and prayed, and you’ve yet to see an answer, may I encourage you  to keep on asking, for it shall be given to you (Luke 11:9). And hope will burst forth as surely as a blossom from a garden tree—as surely as a Savior from a garden tomb. 

Dear Father, thank You for Your free gift of salvation, which was not free for You, as You gave Your one and only Son to die in my place (John 3:16). Thank You, Lord, for that cleansing flow that makes me as white as snow (Psalm 51:7). And thank You, Lord, for the hope of cherry blossoms. Amen.