Where is God Planting You?
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 by Melissa A. McLaughlin

By Melissa McLaughlin

Planted By God

I rushed outside to grab the mail. A long to-do list occupied my mind. My feet scurried down the sidewalk, attempting to keep up with my racing thoughts. As I approached the mailbox, an unexpected sight caught my attention.

The morning sunshine spotlighted something new. I slowed my steps and paused my thoughts. My eyes moved low, focusing on the base of the mailbox. I breathed in deeply and exhaled in wonder.

Seemingly overnight, a sunflower had sprouted and grown twelve inches high. The stalk wedged itself between the sidewalk and a small sandy area behind the mailbox.

Though we sowed the seeds of various flowers in our garden beds, this sunflower was a volunteer. Planted by God’s hand through the birds or squirrels, rain, wind, and sun.

I marveled at the sunflower’s rapid growth despite its precarious position. I would never try to squeeze a sunflower seed into this poor spot. A giggle burst out as I contemplated the “little flower that could.”

A few days later, the sunflower opened its bloom, showcasing glorious golden petals and a mystifying spiral-seed center. Soon, a second bloom popped out. Although bent over the sidewalk now, those who passed by respected this miracle of life, as people had to walk around the sunflower to get past.

This surprising volunteer sunflower prompted me to reflect on God’s work in our lives.

How God Plants and Works with Us

1.God’s ways are not our ways.

When we release ourselves into God’s hands, He plants us in places of His choosing. As we surrender to the Lord’s guidance and control, He may open unimagined doors that enable Him to dig up the soil of our hearts. With God’s life-giving touch, new areas of our lives may spring forth and yield a harvest from the smallest seed of faith.

2.God is still working, even through tough situations.

Though the conditions may appear doubtful to the human eye, God sees with an eternal vision. Certainly, God works through the created order He designed. However, earthly or human constraints never limit God. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is still the God who parts the water and walks on water.

3.Nothing is beyond God’s power.

In addition, circumstances we may believe are hopeless are never too difficult for God. Nothing is impossible for God. The Lord is a miracle-working God and still does things that no man can explain. When the darkness is great, God’s light shines brightest. The unseen hand of God is alive and active.

Is the Holy Spirit calling you to step out of your place of comfort to stretch into new and uncertain tasks or ministries?

Maybe the Lord is tugging on your heart to invite that new neighbor over for coffee, or encourage that struggling teenager at church, or ask that co-worker if you can pray for them. Or something else?

Whether in massive and visible ways or small, unseen ways, God invites us to partner with Him in His kingdom work. Let us be willing volunteers.

May we be surrendered, obedient, and faith-filled seeds available to the hands of God. May the wind of His Word, Son, and Spirit carry us to be planted in the ends of the earth. So all may see Jesus.

Where is God Planting You?

1 Corinthians 3:7 (ESV) - So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

Matthew 13:31-32 (ESV) - He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

P.S. Have you read my new award-winning book, The Whole Bible Devotional: Seeing Jesus in Every Book of the Bible? If not, I hope you’ll check it out! It comes with a free downloadable Small Group Study Guide. Makes a great book for small groups or Sunday School classes. Available at Amazon and other major retailers.

Comments

Karen Friday From TN At 8/26/2025 9:41:50 AM

Beautiful message, Melissa. I love sunflowers and I just imagined with you what this one looked like. Thankful the Lord does still continue to work even in tough situations wherever He's planted us. God bless.

Reply by: Melissa McLaughlin

Amen, Karen! The Lord keeps working in our lives, even when times are tough. May we yield a great harvest for Him! God bless you and your family!

Yvonne Morgan From Oklahoma At 8/26/2025 9:12:28 AM

Amen Melissa. Beautiful message

Reply by: Melissa McLaughlin

May you keep blooming for the Lord, my dear friend!

Jessica Brodie From SC At 8/25/2025 7:11:15 PM

Amen to this!! God is always working and nudging and moving, and it's up to us to listen and do what he asks.

Reply by: Melissa McLaughlin

Amen, Jessica! May we keep looking to the SON and growing where He plants us.

Chebba From Florida At 8/22/2025 8:21:36 AM

All glory to God...Amen!

Reply by: Melissa McLaughlin

Hallelujah, Chebba! May God continue to work powerfully through your life!

Chebba From Florida At 8/21/2025 10:29:54 AM

God has planted me right here, right now, right where I am. I have learned over the years that if I pray and read God's Word, and then put one foot in front of the other, He will put something in front of me that He wants me to do and, "Look Out! if I don't do what He has put in front of me to do.

Reply by: Melissa McLaughlin

Amen, Chebba! That is such a word of wisdom. May we walk with the Lord, one step after another, where He plants us and where He leads us. God bless you, friend!

Warren McLaughlin From PA At 8/21/2025 9:20:21 AM

There are so many references to seeds and plants in the gospels. It's a blessing that God showed you truth through the sunflower plant that came up "on its own." May God bless the seeds planted through your writing.

Reply by: Melissa McLaughlin

Thank you so much! It really was something to watch that sunflower spring up from a tough place and then thrive, despite all the obstacles. May God bless you and help you shine for Him!

Melissa Henderson From Mount Pleasant SC At 8/20/2025 4:22:34 PM

A beautiful message! Thank you for always inspiring and encouraging others. Blessings. :-)

Reply by: Melissa McLaughlin

Thank you, Melissa, for stopping by to read and offer and kind word of encouragement! God bless you!

Spiritual Life

Join author and teacher, Melissa McLaughlin, and grow in Truthful Grace as we ignite the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit in our hearts, minds, prayers and lives. Grow in Christ, grow in the knowledge of His Word, the Bible, grow the passion in your prayers.

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