A couple months ago when I was on my cross-country road trip, we visited the Redwoods National Park. It was SO cool being able to see these famous trees, some of which had been there for thousands of years.

Now, there’s this parable in the Bible that Jesus tells. It’s about a mustard seed. Sound familiar? (Matthew 13:31-32)

This parable reminds me of the Redwood trees. A mustard seed is small—actually it is miniscule—but a mustard tree is HUGE and grows these giant leaves. And Redwoods—well, they are the tallest trees in the world.

How did these trees get to be so big—and stay that way? A good environment, water, and good soil help them grow, and that helps them plant strong roots. And what do the roots do? They keep them planted firmly in the ground so they can’t be swayed and blown over by the wind, no matter how tall they are.

One thing that is really important to remember is this: the Redwoods have been growing for hundreds of years. They didn’t just sprout overnight and immediately grow to be 200 feet tall.

It took work, it took testing, and it took time.

When you are feeling as if you are small or weak, just know: it’s going to take time for you to grow into the person you want to be.

You’re not going to achieve it overnight or in an instant. Sometimes it will take a few months, other times it will take a few years. That’s not a bad thing, but it is a hard thing.

But it’s really important to keep your eyes on the prize. (Matthew 42:22-32) Whatever your prize may be—getting published, strengthening your faith, helping a friend, finishing school, getting your dream job—don’t look away if that’s something you want. You got this!

I hope you have a great day! Praying for you all.
~Willow