The Bible is filled with illustrations and references to agriculture. This largely is due to most of Scripture being written in a heavily agrarian society. The church continues to use agriculture speak to explain biblical principles in a similar fashion. I came across this one, “Sometimes when you’re in a dark place, you think you’ve been buried, but you’ve being planted.” Although this is not from the Bible, it’s quite biblical.
In 1 Peter, we read, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:8-10). Due to The Fall, the world (culture), the flesh (sinful leanings), and the devil wreak havoc on all our lives. No matter how attractive things contrary to God’s permissive standards may appear, they bring only ultimate sorrow. In this life, bad decisions, our and others, and the state of the world create circumstances that seem to bury us.
Peter challenges us to resist every temptation to compromise our faith. When we suffer, we are to courageously remember God’s faithfulness and follow the examples of past and present believers who have persevered. I’m reminded of these words from Romans 8, “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). This verse does not deny hardships. Still, it offers hope that we can be confident that nothing can hurt God’s people so deeply that God cannot turn it around for their good. God is so powerful He takes that which appeared to bury us and uses it to sprout us into “oaks of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:3).
I’m reminded of the tale of the phoenix, an immortal bird from Greek mythology. The phoenix dies in a show of flames and combustion, and from the ashes is birthed a new phoenix. Like the phoenix, our God brings “beauty out of ashes” (Isaiah 61:3). He takes even those dark events that seem to bury us and, from the proverbial aches, produces in us a more profound understanding of His grace and the ability to flourish in Him. From the ashes comes life for those in Christ. You might feel like you are buried under the crud of life, but take heart, in Christ, you have been planted, and God will “restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!