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Brown Grass
As the old saying goes, “The grass looks greener on the other side.” The alternative says, “The grass isn’t necessarily always greener on the other side.” Then there’s “the grass is green where you water it.” However, the grass is the greenest in the center of God’s will. Nonetheless, even when a person is in the center of His will, the grass still might look brown to him. Why? Because of adverse circumstances in which he finds himself.
Ease does not necessarily equate to being in the right place; sometimes it’s quite the opposite. God’s will does include testing or proving us, which is part of conforming us to the image of Jesus. The process can feel rather unsettling at times, especially if we are caught off guard by unexpected surprises. The fact is God will do the unexpected. Moreover, He does not always do what we expect Him to do. It’s futile trying placing Him in a box.
1 Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Sometimes, we place ourselves in less-than-ideal circumstances. We might just spill a bottle of Roundup, and kill the grass. Of course, lack of fellowship with Him is the equivalent to failing to water it during dry seasons. We cannot control others, which means they may have a say in our circumstances. While there are many things out of our control, the way we respond is another story. Just as the above passage encourages us to rejoice when facing fiery trials. It means we have the power to choose how to respond, especially since He has given us His grace. We can choose to rejoice, or we can react bitterly. It’s up to us.
James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Looking for Better-Looking Grass
Sometimes, the temptation is to look for greener grass. In short, take matters into our own hands, thinking we can do better. There’s another saying: “You can run, but you can’t hide.” Until we change internally, external changes will make very little difference.
Chasing new things is a way of keeping our old ways, because it doesn’t address the core issues. If our mindset doesn’t change, more than likely we’ll create more of the same. Neither does avoidance change things. Distractions are detrimental to growth. The easy way out is the equivalent of doing things the hard way, because it means we’re pressing the repeat button.
Brown grass exposes weak areas in our life. It reveals we are lacking something, or perhaps, have something that doesn’t belong. It could be the combination of both. For instance, the Word of God is a change agent. Metaphorically, water represents its cleansing properties as revealed in Ephesians. Spiritually speaking, when we fail to spend time in the Word, and lack fellowship with the Lord, we miss the benefits of the Water that keeps things green.
Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
The Word penetrates our being, exposes our inner self, and does the changes in us that we cannot make on our own. If we fill up on worldly things, we can expect to see brown spots in the lawn. They will never fill the voids, much less make things better.
Hebrews 4:12-13 For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do (NASB).
The Greenest Grass
Part of being in the center of God’s will is trusting Him, and not leaning our own understanding (see Proverbs 3:5-7). Sometimes the greener grass actually is on the other side, because He led us there.
Psalm 23:1-3 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
When the grass looks brown, remember, All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:28-29).
Ask for wisdom, and wait on Him.
