Sprouting Out of the Mud

What does a seed need to grow?

Water, nutrient-rich soil, and light. Right?

Well, soil is not actually essential. Hydroponics (growing plants without dirt) uses special materials to ensure that the plant receives the nutrients it needs. The result is higher crop yields as well as the ability to grow plants where they would not naturally be found.

This is great for horticulture.

But, it doesn’t apply to us.

You see, we grow out of the mud.

The mud of family, relationships, circumstances and choices (ours and others).

Those who claim life isn’t messy are living in a hydroponic bubble of their own creation.

I call it a casket.

Just as a seed fights for its life when it is awaked by water, we fight for our souls when God waters our hearts with His Spirit.

Paul wrote to the Philippians, sharing; “Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”

Jesus shared with the crowds at the Festival of Tabernacles that “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”

This seed, this thing called “our present life” for many of us is in the process of awakening.

God plants the seed of life within us; but it’s our choice if we want it to grow.

So often, all we can see is the mud.

We don’t realize that if we’re not in mud, we’re cloaked in dust.

Without the mud, our lives are parched.

It is through the mud that we gain appreciation for the life that is growing within us.

Paul wrote in his second letter to the Corinthians; "That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever."

What mud surrounds our circumstances at this moment?

How can we feel God’s work within us as He waters our spirits?

How would my life be different if I stopped asking to be transplanted into a hydroponic casket?

Related Verses
John 7:37-39
On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

Philippians 2:12-18
Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18
That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.


Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.