Let’s bloom fully, rooted in Him🌸
Healthy growth happens naturally when we abide in Him.
This is part 1 of the Bloom Fully Series, originally published in the Sustain Newsletter.
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At my house, the first cheerful purple crocuses announce that the season of blooming is here! Soon, the daffodils and tulips will follow, and later, my favorites—peonies and bearded irises—will have their moment in the sun. 🌸
Each flower has its own unique beauty, blooming at just the right time. This unfolding beauty points to the wisdom and artistry of the One who designed them all.
But let me ask: have you ever seen a flower bud that never opens? It seemingly has everything it needs to bloom—yet it stops just short.
I wonder—how often do we, too, hold back from fully becoming who God created us to be?
Christ-Oriented vs. Self-Oriented Growth
For followers of Jesus, there is an interesting tension when it comes to personal growth. Culture urges us to become the “best version of ourselves,” and while tending to our well-being is good, this pursuit of growth can be entirely rooted in self. We rely on self-effort and striving, aiming for self-fulfillment. Those of us who have tried it know: it doesn't work. All of this self-focus never brings us lasting satisfaction or a sense of being enough.
On the other hand, some of us—reacting against the self-obsession we see in the culture around us—suppress our growth. We tell ourselves it should be more about Him and less about us. Yet sometimes, if we’re honest, we may actually be operating out of fear or self-doubt rather than faith. We serve, check the right boxes, and stick to what feels safe and familiar—without fully surrendering ourselves to the Lord’s leading—because that can feel really scary. (More on that below.)
Ironically, both extremes are driven by self. The first relies on self-striving; the second is a form of self-protection masquerading as humility and selflessness. And neither brings about the freedom and abundant life that the Lord offers us.
There is no shame here. I have fallen into both errors at various times in my life. But there is a greater freedom available to us.
The Solution
Look at Moses in Exodus 3. When God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, he resisted, overwhelmed by insecurity. But his reluctance wasn’t humility—it was fear. And no wonder! God was calling him to do something far beyond his own ability.
God’s answer?
"I will be with you." (Exodus 3:12)
Eventually, Moses leaned into this promise and obeyed. The Lord's glory and provision were on display. The Israelites walked out of Egypt as free people. As for Moses: not only did he see the Lord work in incredible ways, he himself grew into the leader God intended him to be. His growth wasn’t the focus, but it was a natural—and beautiful—outcome of abiding in God’s presence and obeying Him.
Jesus is the true Vine. 🌿 When we remain in Him, we are alive and growing. Even in hard seasons, we grow all the more when we stay rooted in Him.
Friends, avoiding self-focus is good, but shrinking back or stifling our growth isn't humility either. True humility is depending on the Lord and following Him, knowing that He loves us profoundly and directs us with great wisdom and care. He sees the big picture. And He also sees every intricate detail that He placed in us for His glory. Sometimes our humility and dependence on the Lord may look like being faithful in unglamorous, unrecognized work. Other times, it may look like bold obedience, as we see in the case of Moses.
A Reminder: You Matter to God
Before we wrap up, let me say this for anyone who needs the reminder: you matter to God. You specifically. Before you do anything to serve God or others.
This is the God who leaves the ninety-nine to find the one lost sheep (Matthew 18:12). The One who tenderly and intentionally knit you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-14). The One who sent His Son while you were still a sinner, unable to do anything to save yourself (Romans 5:8).
Which is why we can trust Him. Not out of guilt or obligation, but because He loves us best and knows us fully.
Thank you, Father, for sending Jesus, who showed us how deeply loved we are and made a way for us to come to You apart from our own efforts.
Let's trust and follow Him because life holds nothing else worth comparing to walking with Him.
What’s Next?
As we continue this series, we’ll explore what it means to bloom in His way and His timing by:
🌱 Rooting ourselves in Him
🙏 Surrendering to His process
🌸 Blooming in His time
A Prayer for the Week Ahead
Lord, shape us into the women You want us to be.
We pray for the kind of intimate connection and dependence on You that result in healthy growth—not hindered by our striving or limited by our fears and insecurities.
Help us to fix our eyes on You, Jesus. Not because we are trying to be good in our own efforts, but because You are so good. You are so far beyond anything else this world can offer us. So far beyond anything we could ever hope to do for ourselves.
May we live in the full freedom and abundant life that You give us, blooming fully in Your time in a way that honors You as our Creator. Amen.
Thanks for reading! I'm excited to continue this series together! đź’›
Your companion on the journey,
Nicole