“The tiny seed knew that in order to grow it needed to be dropped in dirt, covered in darkness, and struggle to reach the light.” -Sandra Kring

I’ve often heard it said that when we feel like we’re stuck in the darkness, maybe we are actually seeds that have been planted. But in all honesty, when we are at the bottom, blinded by the dark, it’s easy to only see the darkness.

I heard a story about a lady in another country, arrested and imprisoned for her faith. Forced into a metal container, standing room only, young and old, they shivered from the cold at night and nearly suffocated from the heat during the day. When they were let out, they were treated as animals, told to do their business in the yard. Food was minimal. The future seemed bleak. Darkness encompassed the hearts and minds of the prisoners.

Instead of only seeing darkness, this lady chose to think of herself as a seed—planted as a beacon of hope amidst a container of desperate prisoners. She prayed, asking the Lord—not for a way of escape—for a way to offer the people hope. The story of Paul and Silas came to mind. Locked in chains, they filled the air with hymns of praise.

This brave, devoted woman began to sing. At first, the prisoners resisted. But after a while, the whole container joined. The praise irritated the guards. They made the environment even harder on them. Yet, they praised God. Instead of only seeing darkness, they held onto hope.

            How do we change our focus and see past the darkness that seems overwhelming and blinding? We praise. We count our blessings. We remember all the times when God came through. And allow God to grow us into full bloom.

            Hard times will come. But so will the good. We might see only darkness. But maybe we are actually planted. If we succumb to the darkness, how will we ever know the difference?

            Let the rain fall and allow God to do the growing. Then sit back and show off his amazing bloom in your life. Praising and counting your blessings through it all.