Out of the ground

A few weeks ago I was at our Wednesday night service.  We have people who paint during the service and someone painted a flower - you could see the flower above and below the ground.  And it struck me.  

Ephesians 3:
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith-that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

To be rooted in something...

A plant is rooted in the ground.  The ground is dark.  And cold.  And dreary.  

It's not pretty down there...but it's where the plant is fed and grows.

And after a while, it sprouts up and produces a flower, a fruit, leaves, something.  

The dark times can be nasty and lonely.  It can seem like it's a worthless time.  BUT it is needed.  It is where so much growth happens.  It makes you more beautiful.  When you spring forth out of the darkness, you bear fruit for the world to see.  And the time underground becomes worth it.