We call our home Goose Place. We have at least twenty houseplants of varying styles and personalities trailing about the house, reaching for patches of sunlight. They all survived a blistering California summer. But once winter came, I accidentally left one overnight in the backyard, and it froze to the core. Cold and crispy, the leaves turned black and shriveled. I was pretty sure it was a goner.
Then a wondrous thing happened. After a few weeks of gentle watering and a dash of foolish hope, I saw a brand new leaf unfurl at the tip—bright, green, beautiful. I couldn’t have been more surprised. Despite my neglect, this unabashedly proud little leaf burst into existence almost overnight.
It reminds me of “eucatastrophe,” a term J. R. R. Tolkien coined for a sudden, joyous turn of events. Even when all hope seems lost, something often changes the story’s end. Death in reverse. Hope restored. What comes after is nothing like what came before. There was an old way of doing things, and now there is a new way. Now, when I look at this little fiddle leaf fig, I don’t just see an ordinary houseplant—I see the power of death-reversing, hope-restoring life at work.
Our resurrected life in Christ is like this, only far better. “Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Just as each bud draws its life from the whole plant—including that decaying yet nutrient-dense soil—each of us draws our new life from Christ’s glory.
When we stop to think about this, it’s wild. God has given us new hearts, new minds, new eyes to bear witness to His miracles. Unlike those in the Old Testament, we live in an age full of first-hand stories that speak to how the resurrection shapes our present lives. Many of these appear in Scripture, and others are happening around us. Even in our hearts!
Christ in us changes everything. We are freed from our “old self” (vv. 6–7), the version of ourselves that is unbridled and keeps us bound to sin. We are healed and restored and have the privilege of partnering with Jesus in healing and restoring others. And we have the joy of walking with Him as our daily companion and friend.
How does the resurrection shape our present life? It gives us a lens for hope. It deepens our love for God and others as we experience His presence—a presence that draws in close and heals our hurts (1Peter 2:24). And it allows something as simple as a houseplant to reflect Christ’s death-reversing, hope-restoring life. Thank you, Jesus, for all you have done for us and continue to do.
Oh how I wish to be living in the truth of the new creation He has made me. Why oh why do I continue to struggle so much with my sinful heart and mind!?! He has given me a NEW heart and a NEW mind!!!
Oh Taylor I could have written this post. I feel the same. Thank you.
I pray that I would remember how far I have come in God and how far he wants to take me . He will complete the work he started in me. ❤️
Kimberly Z, it’s no small thing! God cares about all our cares. I’ll be praying that you have a good weekend together and God will give you wisdom and discernment about how the relationship moves forward. ❤️
@Michelle Patire don’t beat yourself up! I have been there and am there everyday. I put limits on but it’s so tempting to ignore them. I pray it gets easier for you and me both!
Over the last few months God has really done a lot to change my heart in many ways. As I ended the year with a really hard heart break I started the year with a clean slate. After spending time in Mexico with friends an old boyfriend came back into my life. He happened to be in Cabo the same time I was with different people. What are the odds?? After talking for a bit I found myself feeling disappointed we weren’t able to meet up. But I swore I wouldn’t go down that path. We live in the same state but different towns (4 hours apart). He moved back to his very small town to peruse his families farm and I stayed in the city. Even though I truly loved him I wasn’t sure I could see myself moving away from my family to no man’s land (haha). After reconnecting I found my heart really wanted to spend time with him. But why? I swore it off. Well he ended up coming to see me and it was great and felt like maybe my heart wants to try this again. The last month or so has been wonderful but now it’s my turn to make the trek to go to his home town for the weekend. I am so nervous as I might still not see myself being up there. I feel silly asking for prayers for such a small thing but when people so much bigger issues than mine. But I pray God will make do what’s meant to happen. I listened to a video this morning that said the will of God will not take you were the power of God cannot keep you. Praying this change of heart for me is a good thing. Praying for all you sweet ladies! Happy Wednesday!
“We were lost sheep, but now we have a shepherd and observer of our souls. “ He gave us a lens of hope, deepens our love for God and others as we experience His presence that draws us in close and heals our hurts.” 1 Peter 2:24
Good morning Shes! I almost never comment on here even though I’ve been a subscriber since 2020, but I’d appreciate prayer for someone God’s really given me His heart for. Please pray for D.H. He professes to be a Christian, but I’m concerned that he hasn’t truly been born again. My heart breaks as I see him chase after and be enamored by worldly things like wealth, fame, and success, which are waterless springs that can’t satisfy. Please pray that God would open his eyes to the truth of the Gospel and that he would truly give his life to Christ and receive abundant life in the here and now and eternal life in the hereafter. May Jesus become his everything, and may he spend the rest of his days following Him, loving Him, serving Him, worshiping Him, and telling the world about Him with the platform he’s been given through recent events. Please come home, D.H.; Jesus loves you.