nothing is wasted
how God uses every single part of our story
I loved dandelions as a child. Their yellow hue and their wishing power spoke to my heart that longed for goodness and beauty. But as an adult, they sort of annoy me.
When we bought our house two years ago, we essentially inherited a jungle of a backyard. It took us what felt like ages to get it under control. The day that we received our keys, the weeds came up to my hip, and they swallowed our two year old whole. Seriously, I was actually concerned that we were going to lose him in the mess that had grown back there.
Over the last two years, we’ve had to be diligent about pulling weeds and mowing, otherwise our jungle will be resurrected. But as life goes, things have started to get a little out of control again. However, this time, our yard isn’t filled with towering weeds that will prick you. Instead, it’s covered in hundreds of dandelions.
When the sun hits the high point of the day, our yard glows in golden rays. It’s absolutely beautiful, but it’s also quite annoying. Weeds don’t have any business being that pretty. And even worse, there’s no possible way that I could get rid of them all.
Something I recently learned about dandelions is that every single part of the plant is nutritional. They also have excellent health benefits. I have zero desire to eat a dandelion ever, but I found it interesting that the thing that has become the bane of my existence is actually really useful. And as we all know, when they eventually mature and die, they let off seeds that go on to grow another plant (great for them, not so great for my yard).
This got me thinking: aren’t we just like dandelions?
The things that we see as painful, hard, or just plain pointless are never a waste to God. The parts of our life that seem like a waste of time or the trauma or challenge you endured could actually be a catalyst for something beautiful.
For a long time, I didn’t understand why God allowed me to experience a lot of the things I’ve walked through. I’ve struggled with mental health challenges, painful relationships, self-harm, and challenging family dynamics. I gave myself away to men who didn’t love me. I’ve hurt other people because of my own brokenness. I’ve had days where I didn’t want to get out of bed and I couldn’t imagine a future for myself.
Yet with God, nothing is wasted.
I’ve seen firsthand how the Lord has used my story to bless others. I’ve been able to minister to others who have similar stories. I’ve learned that God’s goodness is so much sweeter when I’ve faced hardship. My challenges have given me the perseverance I need to keep going. They’ve taught me about love and loss, perspective and gratitude. My testimony shows that even in the depths of pain and brokenness, God can reach us.
God uses every single part of our story, even the parts that you think couldn’t possibly be used for good. We are dandelions—growing despite it all and making a beautiful harvest out of our hardships.
As I look out on my backyard today, I’ll remember that these yellow flowers serve a purpose, just as you and I do. They’ll continue to spread and grow, their seeds blowing with the breeze. Perhaps I’ll let them stay for now—there’s no way I can get rid of them all anyway.
This warmed my heart and encouraged me. I still have much to give. Thank you.