THEY WILL GROW WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT

I was away from home for just 4 days when I came back to a few but significant changes in the yard and in our neighbourhood. I found the trees I had left with little to no leaves so green and leafed it looked like it was a different place altogether. When I left, our neighbour’s house could be seen in full view but a few days later because of the amount of rainfall that fell, it was now partially visible because of the trees that were now full of leaves. The change is quite clear. It gladly happened in my absence!   

The other neighbour’s roof didn’t have tiles when I left. 4 days later when I came back, it was fully tiled. There had been undeniable progress to the house and obviously to the owner who desires to see the house complete and even inhabited. The lemon tree in our yard was shorter when I left and I came back to find it a bit taller and with new leaves. All this transpired without my consent! Nothing waited for me because frankly speaking, I do not matter to them.

I didn’t find things the same way I had left them. The plants had received so much rainfall they raced to grow up and fulfil the command hidden in them. If they receive rainfall, they should grow the principle states. So, with rain falling significantly on those few days, they answered the call and grew significantly too. It doesn’t matter that I wasn’t around; it’s their business with their Maker. The neighbour had the builders tile the roof because the tiles were present to be affixed and it was also their will for the roof to be tiled at that particular time. One tile at a time the builders worked until the roof was fully tiled – obviously contending with the rain. One step at a time they did what they needed to do and the results would speak for themselves. They didn’t need me because I am not and was never part of the equation.

What am I saying? I am trying to communicate something about growth and change. They go together. When we grow, we certainly change. I am always disturbed by people who unhealthily expect others to remain where they left them as if they will be waiting for them or have to seek consent from them to grow or change. God has not given anyone such power in His wisdom because many would be midgets because of sick expectations from those that think they have power and advantage over them. In my absence there was significant progress and change in my environment, which means nothing needed my consent or permission to do what they should naturally do. The trees don’t even know I exist – they just answer to God who expects them to submit to His instructions whether I like it or not. They are accountable to God.

The people we live with belong to God. Their growth timetable is with God therefore they answer to Him. When He places demands on them, they must respond and run with what He requires from them without first conferring with us. We are almost insignificant players where this is concerned. We are more spectators than participators. The problem with spectators worldwide is the fact that they think they know what the players/participators should do and be doing. They misjudge the participators because they think they know them. No, they/you don’t! Sometimes they write them off but they are always wrong. The amount of potential they possess is known by God and oft times the players prove this by emerging even better than had been supposed.   

Stop expecting people to be in the same place all their lives. Stop addressing people with contempt because of what you previously knew about them. Stop rejecting the grown and changed “new” person because you want to maintain advantage over the old. Stop expecting the worst about others. Desist from arresting people to what you knew before. 4 days is enough for things to change whether you are present or not. No one waits for you to live their lives and manifest what is hidden in them. You are neither the measuring stick nor the standard God uses to attend to His children.

Just because you don’t want them to grow doesn’t mean God doesn’t too. Because you are short-sighted, it doesn’t mean God is too. Just because they intimidate you doesn’t mean they intimidate God too, in fact, deal with your insecurities and leave them alone. God is happy to see them grow and thrive and that’s what matters the most.

To those that are planted and are receiving adequate rainfall, by all means grow. At all costs, expand and occupy more space, God is for you and is pleased. He will make you custodian over much because you can be trusted to manage diligently what’s put in your hands like the man who multiplied his 5 talents to yield a 100% increase. Don’t be afraid to enjoy the new you because of spoilsports. Don’t suppress your growth so that you remain acceptable to those who want to limit you. If they want to limit you, they actually do not belong in your space. Let them go and let yourself go too, higher levels await this decision.  

To you who has been walked away on, let not the ones who dumped you find you in the same spot. You don’t have to remain and rot there. The best revenge is for them to find you on new ground, happier and glowing. They didn’t find Jesus in the tomb and that was sweet revenge.

People will grow and change without your consent, get used to it. It will rid of you sourness and unnecessary sicknesses. It will help you mind your business. It will teach you generosity which will expand your thinking and enlarge your capacity.