I want to tell you a story:

One day a man decided to quit. He decided to quit his job, his relationships, and quit on God.  He went to the woods to have one last talk with God. He said “God, can you give me one good reason not to quit?” God said “Look around”, do you see the fern and the bamboo?” “Yes”, the man replied.” God said ‘when I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water.  The fern quickly grew from the earth yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.  In the second year the Fern grew but nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.   In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In the fourth year, nothing came up but I would not quit. Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout appeared. Compared to the fern it was small and insignificant but just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.  It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.  I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle.” God said to the man. “I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you.” “Don’t compare yourself to others.” God said.  “The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful.” “Your time will come”, God said to the man. “You will also rise high.” The man asked.”How high will the bamboo rise?” God said “as high as it can.’ God said, “Give me glory by rising as high as you can.”

This might be hard for you to believe but do you know that the times you spend struggling with the cares of life are times when you have actually been growing roots?” Life is not a problem to be solved, but a gift to be enjoyed.  You have been created by God for a specific purpose, one that no one else can fulfill and if you focus on how difficult life can be, you are missing the joy of the experience God has planned for you.  Don’t walk by a rose bush and not think about how beautiful it is.  Even rose bushes have thorns but the thorns don’t take away from the beauty of the rose.  Life is a gift from God.  You are a gift that God has put on this earth and He wants you to glorify Him by displaying your beauty.  Don’t waste time by comparing yourself to others.  Everyone has unique gifts but we all have the same purpose.  If your beauty is not being seen, there is a gap in the rose bush.  The rose bush isn’t mature until all the roses have blossomed.

Give God the glory due Him by rising as high as you can.  Bloom where you have been planted because the world needs to see the beauty in you.  Evil is always on display and it’s time for the things that are good and lovely to be seen.  God works in mysterious ways and when you have risen as high as you can, you just might be the inspiration that causes another rose to bud.