What Do You Do When Someone Else is Making All the Noise?

Recently, I was moving rocks from one area of my yard to another. I’m in the process of creating a small, succulent garden. [Why Succulent? They’re cool, easy to plant and non-time consuming-plus my kids won’t eat them…]

The work wasn’t invigorating, applause worthy or even challenging. It was simply necessary. After I moved the rocks, I raked them and began banging them with a shovel to even them out. Whether this an actual gardening method or not, I’m unsure. But, it did the job. The noise was loud and grating, and as I was banging, a thought went through my mind: 

“What if someone else was making all the noise? How would I respond?” 

The question, obviously God-prompted, went a little deeper than shovel clanging. And, it wasn’t about the rocks. 

It was about life. 

We’re all working on our garden: getting rid of weeds, pulling out dead things, watering it, preparing it to grow something great. And, we’re all making noise while we do it. 

So, how do we respond when someone else’s garden-growing work is making more noise than our own? 

How do we respond when our neighbors garden looks better, their plants grow faster and everyone applauds their work? 

How do we respond when their shovel clanging is gathering a crowd, but you’re the only one who can hear yours? 

How do we respond when their fruit begins to bud, but we’re still holding a seed? 

Ground yourself. 

Be present in your today. Don’t worry about your future—When will my fruit come? How big will it be? Will people see it? Your responsible for stewarding over wherever you’re at in the process—today. Your stewardship will determine your reward, so take good care of what you’re growing. 

Stop obsessing over theirs and start taking care of yours. Your garden won’t grow itself, but it will go into decay if you neglect it. If you’re always watching someone else, comparing yours to theirs, even leaving your own to watch them take care of theirs, it will never be fruitful. It’s right to honor and appreciate, but never neglect your own. 

Plant yourself in your own. God has a divine process, and He’s a master gardner. He placed Adam and Eve in Eden, and He’s placed you in “____.” If you truly trust Him, letting Him have control, and being faithful to plant yourself, the desires of your heart will be fulfilled. Give yourself one hundred percent where you are—don’t keep anything on reserve. 

Your garden will grow if you do so. 

It’s already making noise.

Whether you hear it or not, I know God does.