“Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal” (John 12:24-25, The Message).

Sometimes what feels like death can actually be a rebirth. When you see the death of a dream, of a career, of a relationship, or of a loved one, it can feel like the end. It feels like there will never be life or hope or joy on the other side.

But when that one seed falls into the ground and dies, it births something far greater than one single solitary seed. It multiplies into something far beyond what you could have ever hoped or imagined. It’s like God takes away your short story and sets you down in the middle of a sprawling novel with possibilities and outcomes you would never have thought of on your own.

“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!” (Ephesians 3:20-21, The Message).