A Tree of Righteousness: A New Desire, A New Direction

🌳 In the past two months, something truly remarkable has begun to blossom in my life. A deep, undeniable desire to grow trees has taken root, and I've started cultivating a small nursery of diverse life—from the vibrant Crepe Myrtle and exotic Rambutan to the stately Southern and Texas Live Oaks, and the productive lemon, pomegranate, and avocado trees. This passion, seemingly out of nowhere, has pointed my heart toward a path I never expected: becoming an arborist.

This is far more than just a hobby, it feels like a calling. There is no question about where this strong, sudden desire came from, its from the Father. The Scripture illuminates this beautifully:

"for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13, ESV)

This verse reveals a profound truth. It wasn't my own will alone that sparked this dream; it was God working in me , instilling both the desire ("to will") and the ability ("to work") to pursue this. My newfound love for the deep roots, towering presence, and life-sustaining shade of trees is a gift, a sign of His "good pleasure" being made manifest in my life.

❤️A New Heart and a Clear Direction

All my life I’ve been a person with intense drive, and a fierce energy, but one that was scattered and directionless. I was constantly searching for a purpose that could harness that energy, but I could never quite find my footing. My plans always seemed to lead to frustration or emptiness.

🙏Then I turned to God and asked Him for direction. The answer He gave me was unmistakable and utterly transforming. He didn't just give me a roadmap; He gave me a new heart. This aligns perfectly with His promise:

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26, ESV)

🌱He made it clear and obvious that I was to find healing and transformation through His creation—specifically, through the act of growing plants and tending these trees. He took my heart of stone—the one that chased fleeting, worldly pursuits—and replaced it with a new, receptive heart ("a heart of flesh"). Oh, how wonderful it is what He has done for me!

Delighting in Him, Receiving His Desires

Once my heart was changed, and I truly fell in love with God, the desires of my life changed too. My deepest longings shifted from self-serving ambitions to seeking His face. When I did that, He fulfilled another glorious promise:

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4, ESV)

💦When I aligned my priorities with Him, He didn't just inspire a passion for arboriculture; He showered me with unexpected blessings beyond my wildest dreams. Putting faith at the forefront transformed my life's quality immeasurably. After all, who better to nurture our growth than the ultimate Creator?

This is where planning meets Providence. I make my daily plans, I water the seeds, I monitor the soil, but ultimately, the success is out of my hands. I like how my Pastor put it one Sunday “without Him, I am zero.” It isHis path I walk:

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." (Proverbs 16:9, ESV)

My pursuit of becoming a grower is the "way" I plan, but God is the one "establishing my steps," bringing this unexpected and joyful passion to fruition.

🌱Planted for His Glory

My journey—from a heart with bo direction, to a new heart with a specific, God-given passion—is leading to a powerful destiny, one that brings all these Scriptures together.

The prophet Isaiah speaks of a beautiful, restorative exchange for those who mourn:

"...to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified." (Isaiah 61:3, ESV)

I am learning to surrender my plans (Proverbs 16:9) and allow God to work in me (Philippians 2:13). He has changed my heart of stone to a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26) and replaced my old, faint desires with the new, fulfilling desire to grow oaks of righteousness (Psalm 37:4), both literally and spiritually.

Today, as I tend to my young developing Oaks, I know I am on my way to becoming one of those great oaks that the Lord has planted for His own Glory. My life, like the trees I grow, is meant to stand strong, deep-rooted, and beautiful, a testament to the transformative power of the Creator.

What unexpected passion has God planted in your life? How have you seen Him establish your steps when you delighted in Him?

Love Always,

A Grateful Gardener