Bloom Where You’re Planted

Can you believe it’s May already? You know the saying—“April showers bring May flowers.” And isn’t that just how life works? A little rain, a little waiting, and then—suddenly—something beautiful blooms.

Our scripture for today is Isaiah 61:11 (NLT): “The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to the nations of the world. Everyone will praise him! His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, with plants springing up everywhere.”

Today we’re talking about what it means to bloom in your own season, to grow through the mud, and to let God bring something good out of life’s messiest moments.

Let’s talk about what the ‘rain’ of life looks like—and how it’s actually the start of something new.

I don’t know about y’all, but after all the rain we’ve gotten lately, our yard is just holding water. And even though the rain has passed, there are still puddles everywhere. That’s frustrating because it’s still hard to do things, even after the storm is over.

Life can feel like that. You can feel refreshed, but still wonder, “Now what?” Rain and storms are messy, inconvenient, and sometimes downright miserable. But where we see inconvenience, God might be using those puddles to help your roots grow deeper. Just like flowers need watering, we need hard seasons to grow strong in our faith.

Have you ever worked out and, after a day, thought, “Okay, where’s the change?” You feel a little better, but when you look in the mirror, you don’t see much.

That’s life. Growth is happening even when you can’t see it. God is always at work beneath the surface.

Patience is often needed—not just with ourselves, but with others, too. It can be annoying to wait, but in the waiting, God is working. And when the time is right? Totally worth the wait.

If you’re in a rainy season right now, hold on. Don’t give up. God never lets the rain fall without a purpose—and He never forgets to bring the flowers afterward.

Think of the disciples: they were caught in storms not once, but twice. The first time, they woke Jesus up in a panic—and all He did was speak and calm the storm. The second time, Jesus walked out to them on the water, taught Peter a lesson, and then got into the boat with them.

God is with us in the storm, ready to meet us where we are. So hold on. Help is on the way.

Let’s talk about how to grow right where you are—even if life doesn’t look the way you imagined.

Whose life has actually turned out like they planned? No one’s. That’s who.

Ever looked at someone else’s life and thought, “Wow, they have it all together”? Spoiler: they don’t.

Comparison makes us forget that every garden has weeds, and even the greenest grass might be full of brown spots. God brings beauty right in the middle of our mess.

Trust me—some days, I am the mess. So I’m thankful for God’s beauty and grace.

Sometimes we think blooming has to be something big—a promotion, a big life change, a bold step. But small blooms count too.

When the big thing we were expecting doesn’t happen, we can feel disappointed. But God is still growing us in those moments: teaching us patience, building our kindness, deepening our gratitude.

Everything we have is from our Provider. And we should be thankful in all things.

Don’t rush the process. Oh, but that’s hard, right?

We think we know what’s next, and we want to jump in before the timing is right. But what if we rush ahead and miss the blessing God had prepared? What if our impatience causes us to stumble?

Stay planted. Stay rooted in His Word. Keep showing up. Trust that God is doing something—even when it feels slow.

Now let’s talk about living in full bloom. Sharing your faith, your growth, your journey—it’s a beautiful thing.

Think of a wildflower field—colorful, unexpected, and full of life. I love seeing flowers in the yards this time of year. Every time I see them, I’m in awe. They open up in the morning and follow the sun all day, then close when it’s time to rest.

Let that be us. Open up each morning to the Lord, and follow the Son all day.

That’s what your faith can be to the world. You don’t have to be perfect. Just be real, rooted, and ready to grow.

How we carry ourselves matters. People are watching, even when we don’t realize it.

A flower doesn’t bloom just for itself—it brings beauty to the space around it. Your encouragement, your kindness, your story—those are seeds. And you never know what they’ll grow into for someone else.

Community reminds us that we’re not alone. But sometimes, we compare ourselves and think others are handling things better than we are.

Remember this: you are you. Your walk is your own. You’re not behind. You’re not forgotten. You’re blooming at your own pace. And God sees every petal.

So, wherever you are today, know this: Rainy seasons don’t last forever. And when the sun breaks through, you’ll see what God’s been doing all along.

Let’s be people who bloom boldly, trust the process, and cheer each other on.

Happy May, friends! Keep rising, shining, and blooming—right where God has planted you.