From Dormacy to Bloom
There is power in the dormancy of winter, which bursts forth as new growth in the spring. Did you ever look at deciduous trees in the winter and think about how dead they look? There are no leaves, no blooms, and seemingly no life left in the tree. Yet beneath the surface, new growth is happening. As surely as night turns to day, my dead looking apple tree bursts forth into bloom every spring. Every spring, I marvel at the beauty of the blooms budding from the seemingly lifeless tree and then at the fruit that begins to grow out of the once cold, grey branches.
The same concept is true of perennial plants. This morning I walked past my daffodil bed. There’s no evidence of life in the flower bed, as all the bulbs lay dormant. If I didn’t know about the power of dormancy, I would have dug up the seemingly dead bulbs and thrown them out last summer after they stopped blooming. Because I have a background in horticulture, I know there is life in the bulbs, but they went into a period of dormancy to protect themselves from the stressors of the environment and the impact on them.
God gives us rest in seasons of dormancy. A person may look at you and think there is little going on in your life, and you are not being fruitful in the Kingdom. Spiritually mature people will recognize the work God is doing in your life beneath the surface in preparation for the next season in your life.
Certainly, most of us have experienced extreme stress during the past two years of this pandemic. There are different kinds of stress. Emotional and mental stress has created an epidemic within the pandemic, as anxiety over the uncertainties continues to rise. Trying to keep up with the latest requirements and recommendations creates stress. The necessity of being flexible amid constant change in work and school routines creates additional stress. Financial loss and pressures create more stress. If you’ve experienced the death of a loved one during the pandemic, there’s grief to contend with. Depending on the situation, it may evolve into a complex grief over a lack of closure or ability to be with a loved one during their time of need.
There are physical stressors women are experiencing during the pandemic. With more people in the home on a daily basis due to remote work and learning, there is more cleaning to do. More cooking to do. More sanitizing to do. If someone in the home gets sick, there’s more caregiving to do. Anxiety and worry add to the lack of sleep, which takes a physical toll on the body.
At some point, like plants, we go into ‘survival mode.’ If you’ve experienced it, you know what I am talking about. Trying to keep up with the day-to-day becomes too much. I tend to ‘shut down’ emotionally first. I can physically cook, clean, and work but cannot handle the emotional and mental fatigue. My psyche goes into a state of dormancy. Can you relate to this?
Physically, we keep the pace until we hit the proverbial wall. There have been a few times this past year when I have just had to stop and allow myself to become physically dormant as well as emotionally. A phrase often used to describe this action is ‘taking time to recharge.’ It’s a survival technique, just like a plant becoming dormant is a protective survival measure.
While others make question your well-being if they observe your withdrawal from activities and interactions, know there is power in the time of dormancy. Do not feel guilty about stopping for a time.
When plants are in a state of dormancy, the foliage and blooms cease growing, but the roots are still alive and growing. The same is true when we withdraw and power down for a while. During this season, growth occurs deep in our spiritual roots as we just dwell in the presence of the Lord, listen to worship music, read the Bible, and are introspective.
Just as plants slowly emerge from the dormant season, it is wise for you to emerge slowly. What do I mean by this? Simply put, don’t rush back in to a fully packed schedule that will immediately begin to deplete you. My apple tree buds, then blooms, then gains the leaves as the fruit begins to grow. It’s a process that takes several months.
Emerging from your season of dormancy should be a gradual process. Leave room for the emotional and mental stressors that will continue to come your way, and schedule in time for rest and relaxation. These measures will help insulate you from the impacts of the circumstances we all find ourselves in during this pandemic and will allow the fruit of your life to once again bloom. Until then, remember that your time of dormancy is not in vain. Growth is still happening, and you are being recharged, rejuvenated and when you emerge, you will be powerful and effective in ministering to your family and those around you.
