The Beauty in Breaking
"For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land."
Song of Solomon 2:11-12
This past month brought with it a new season - nature awakens from its slumber, and finally, we witness a beautiful dance of new life. Winter held us within long, dark days, and now Spring has come.
There is something remarkable about the specific shade of yellow of those first daffodils boldly standing up from the cold ground. The trees follow - awakening from within as their sealed branches cover themselves in greenery. It’s not a deep summer green, it’s lighter. One that speaks of newness with the promise of more to come. The sun feels warmer; its radiance is a beacon for our hearts that have been cooped inside. More flowers and colors quickly join in - purples, reds, pinks. Spring is a season that brings with it so much beauty, and it tends to be the very thing that pulls our focus.
And yet, what we actually see is the end of a journey that began long before Spring arrived.There's a profound lesson nestled within this seasonal transformation—a lesson about growth, about breaking, and about the beauty that emerges from both.
Let’s look beyond the charming nature of spring and dig a little deeper - LITERALLY! Let's dive into the soil that cradles the very thing where all this new life comes from - a seed.
I know you all know how a seed works, but bare with me as I explain it. It’s going to all make sense here soon
First Step: Germination: Beneath the surface, within the darkness of soil, a miraculous process unfolds. Seeds are remarkable structures that contain a plant enclosed within a protective coat. First, it must break open, surrendering its familiar form, in order to give way to new life. It is through this breaking that growth is initiated; roots delve deep into the earth - anchoring the young plant into the soil - and a new, tender sprout reaches eagerly toward the sky.
In other words, breaking is NEEDED for growth to emerge.
Breaking New Grounds: What’s important to recognize here next is how light guides the sprout to push past the heavy layers of soil in order to burst open into the air above ground. This is an entire new place outside of the comfort it once knew and has never been to before.
But this seedling doesn’t let discomfort stop it. With its anchored roots, the stretching only makes the stalk stronger to support what is to come.
Reaching for More: During this phase, the plant focuses on developing a robust root system and lush foliage to maximize photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy to fuel growth. Here leaves begin forming - this is a process of tearing open over and over so these leaves can unfold and better extend the plant to reach towards light.
But it is still not done, and so it continues to seek light.
Blossoming: Not only must leaves form, but a new piece - the bud - must unfurl from the stem. Initially, the bud is small and tightly closed.
But when the time has come, the protective covering of the flower bud gradually opens, revealing the petals inside. More breaking, more stretching. Even in this final step.
But the beauty of this blossom is remarkable. It’s why we marvel so greatly in Spring - why we pick flowers to fill our homes with and make others smile.
Without this breaking,
a seed would never develop roots that nourish and support it.
Without this stretching,
a sprout would never grow to see the light that awaits it.
Without this tearing,
a stem would struggle in trying to rely on itself for what it needs help with.
Without this opening,
the world would never know the beauty of color this flower was created to bear.
"Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
Luke 12:27 | ESV
Plants are utterly remarkable, adaptable, and resilient, but what I love the most in all this is their priority in anchoring their roots and relentless reliance on light throughout the blooming of what it was designed to become. In every single stage of growth there is breaking, and yet, from the beginning, plants focus on anchoring down and seeking light.
What a beautiful lesson for our hearts. How often in times of toil have we leaned into growing pains instead of reaching for God’s Word? How often does our child-like faith turn into child-like tantrums? How much time have we wasted complaining instead of praying?
Just as the seed must break open to usher in new life, we often find that growth necessitates breaking—the breaking of old habits, of insecurities, control, and patterns we sit so comfortably in.
Admittedly, my roots have been quite shallow for much of my life because they weren’t reaching for more of God. They were grasping for the comforts of this world - on how I could be soothed instead of nourished in Truth. And while this may bring relief in the small picture, overall I was practicing staying a closed off little seed - one who was actually designed to blossom.
But take heart, for in the breaking, there is renewal. Just as the seed, once broken, bursts forth with vitality and purpose, so too do we discover newfound strength and resilience as we embrace the process of growth. Our struggles, our challenges, and even our failures serve as fertile ground for God's transformative work in our lives. Through them, He shapes us, molds us, and breathes new life into our souls.
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
Isaiah 43:19 | NIV
As you journey through this season of spring, may you be reminded of the profound truth that growth often requires breaking, but it also brings forth new life. Embrace the changes unfolding within you, trusting in the promise of renewal that awaits. And let growing pains be an indicator to reach your roots deeper for God. He will meet you in every stage as you move ever onward toward the fullness of His purpose for your life.
Closing Prayer:
Father God,
Thank You for the beauty of springtime, a season that reminds us of Your faithfulness and Your love. Help us, Lord, to embrace the process of growth, even when it requires breaking, knowing that You are with us every step of the way. May our lives be a reflection of Your grace and goodness, blooming brightly for Your glory. Teach us, Lord, to embrace the beauty of growth and renewal that surrounds us, and help us to understand the profound lessons that springtime offers. Amen.
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."
Ecclesiastes 3:11
