by Jen Balkey
The book is, The Well- Watered Woman: Rooted in Truth, Growing in Grace, Flourishing in Faith by Gretchen Saffles:
Life ebbs and flows in the rhythm of seasons. God, the Gardener of our souls, faithfully prunes, tends, weeds, and waters us to produce a harvest for His glory. There’s meaning in the in-between moments, and there’s a mission in the ever-changing growth of our souls. Not a moment goes by that doesn’t have eternal worth.
Today’s decisions affect tomorrow’s destination.
Today’s faithfulness affects tomorrow’s fruitfulness.
Today’s investment affects tomorrow’s blooms.
You have everything you need to live a flourishing life in Christ (see Ephesians 1:3). This doesn’t mean you’ll always see or even feel the flourishing, but when your roots run deep and your foundation is built on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, the only possible result is a Spirit-led flourishing. This is something the world doesn’t understand, but it’s something it wants nonetheless.
In our quest for a fruitful life, it’s important to remember that blooms aren’t continuous. They come and go, but that doesn’t mean the moments in between are unnecessary or less important. Blooms result from the faithful labor done in the planting, the rooting, the growing, and the watering. You can’t enjoy a flower without the long process that brought it to that point. (p.258-259)