Scripture: Galatians 1:10 – “Am I now seeking human approval or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (NRSVUE)

With some guidance from God, I made the hard decision to withdraw from a marathon I had been planning for months.  It felt, at first, like I was letting myself down—faltering, even.  But gradually, I started to see that this decision lifted a huge self-imposed burden.  I started finding more joy in my days – cooking, walking with Travis, and, of course, being able to spend more time in our garden.

Then, this fall, the deer returned for “Deer Debacle #2,” though this one was a bit less dramatic.  They got in again, but only pruned a few greens and trampled through what was left of that carrot bed I never replanted after the first debacle.  Frustrated, I went back to fixing the fence.  But this time, while I was working, I noticed something.  Hidden beneath the trampled foliage were a few untouched carrots, and they were HUGE!  Somehow, these carrots had survived being trampled on multiple times; digging their roots deep and growing into something beautiful.

In that moment, I saw a deeper message.  Those carrots had been hidden from me at first, buried beneath the mess, but they had grown stronger and deeper precisely because of all they had been through.  They became a reminder of the ways God works in our lives: we plant our hopes, goals, and dreams like seeds, but we don’t always get to control how they grow.  Some seeds thrive, some get trampled, but when we’re patient, nurturing, and hopeful, God brings surprising growth, even out of situations that feel broken or imperfect.

Reflecting on my garden this year, I saw so many parallels to my own journey with letting go of marathon training and trusting God with my time, my ambitions, and my relationships.  The world often pushes us to be “perfect” or “productive” by its standards.  But the truest productivity, the kind that pleases God, is not always about doing more or pushing harder.  Sometimes, it is about stepping back, allowing space for what truly matters to grow, and trusting God’s timing.

So as we move into the holiday season, let’s remember those carrots.  Life’s “deer debacles” may trample our plans, but in faith, we can trust that with God’s nurturing, what is meant to grow will bear fruit in its own time. Let’s sow seeds of kindness, rest, and faith, and watch as God brings them to full, unexpected beauty.

Reflection Questions: 

1. Ambition & Expectation: In what areas of your life are you driven by ambition, and how do you discern whether this ambition aligns with God’s purpose for you?  Are there any expectations—either from yourself or others—that may be getting in the way of this alignment?

2. Productivity: Think about what you consider “productive” in your daily life.  How might God be inviting you to redefine productivity, focusing on what nurtures your wellbeing, relationships, and faith rather than simply meeting societal expectations?

3. Perfection & Popularity: Are there pressures in your life to appear perfect or gain others’ approval?  How can you begin to let go of these pressures, trusting that God values your authenticity and faithfulness over society’s standards of success?

May all be well,

Karen H. Webster

HSHC co-founder/executive director