An Encouraging Word

Are You a Lonely Petunia?

I’ll never forget the magnificent Petunia baskets in downtown Hailey, Idaho. They were giant balls of brilliant color, one suspended from each lamppost. How do they grow like that? Aside from adequate water, fertilizer, sun and soil, Petunias display most beautifully when they are planted closely together. They thrive when bunched together because their leaves and petals protect their stems from the sun. Have you ever tried to spread Petunia plants apart only to find that they grow spindly and yield only small, pale flowers?

Many of us struggle with a sense of “aloneness.” We feel alone in our circumstances, alone in our thought life, alone in our struggles and our fears. We long for trustworthy friendships and for validation but we hesitate to commit ourselves to small group fellowship. We hesitate because we fear that we won’t fit in, that we can’t measure up to some false standard, that we might become vulnerable, or we’re just plain too busy.

Fellowship is a unity brought about by the Holy Spirit; it is oneness, a close association, a communion. Pastor Bob explained that “fellowship is a God ordained spiritual network.” What a gift for believers! It’s an opportunity to be a part of what God is building; something bigger than ourselves, where the Spirit of the Lord will move in and through His individual people for His perfect purposes. How could anything God ordains, brought about by His Spirit, be less than beneficial for us? Our Creator knows us intimately and He knows where we’ll best grow and thrive spiritually. The Lord doesn’t make mistakes when He brings His people together...He works miracles! Those who have fellowship with Christ should enjoy fellowship with other believers.

With CORE Groups starting again, Pastor Bob has been exhorting us to imitate the early church by “continuing steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayer” (Acts 2:42). In Acts 2, we see great growth in the early Christian church largely due to the close fellowship the believers had. Just as Petunias thrive when bunched together, so do believers. Just as a Petunias planted apart from others won’t grow richly, neither will a believer unless she is “planted” closely to other believers.

You might be a lonely Petunia today, not blooming as beautifully as God intended, but know that the Lord has a perfect place He’d like to plant you. He desires to see you thrive as His child and He tells us that fellowship is essential for our spiritual health. Are you taking the opportunity to let yourself be “bunched together” in fellowship? Why not allow yourself to enjoy your position and share your gifts in your church body today!

For information on your opportunities for fellowship at Calvary Chapel Boise, please see the bible studies on this website, check out CORE Groups online or pick up a CORE Groups brochure in the lobby racks.

Love Christine

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