Bloom Where You are Planted - Trusting God Where You Are

Once upon a time there was a girl who was lost. She began blossoming on the foundation of faith Jesus built her, in the place where He planted her, and with the field of people He flourished around her. The calling on her life through the long and winding wilderness was made more clear. She discovered her purpose, identity, and worth FULLY in Jesus. That girl was me.

It was my freshman year of college where I felt more out of place than I did in my entire life. I walked onto campus as every freshman did; like a lost puppy dog. I was all things anxious, excited, nervous, and feeling very misplaced. I was confused at first, because amid the recruiting process and college hunt, Winona is the place where I felt at home the most, yet it quickly became the place that felt most distant to home. This town of Winona, Minnesota that I was supposed to call home for the next four years seemed like an impossible task.

Every aspect of my life felt foreign to me. It was as if I was playing volleyball for the first time, doing school for the first time, making friends for the first time, and balancing the student-athlete life for the first time. I knew that college was no easy transition, but this was not at all what I imagined. Despite the craziness my assistant coach always spoke this simple truth over our team, “You are all here for a reason.” Jesus says the same thing! He confidently plants each and every one of us in a place with a divine purpose. We may not have full access to His blueprint for our lives, but we can cling to peace knowing that He is constantly at work writing our stories.

1.     Embracing the Growing Pains: Staying His Course

As freshman year progressed, my supposed to be home away from home, continued to feel farther and farther away. My friends from high school seemed to be living their best lives 24/7 while I felt quite the opposite. My Fridays and Saturdays consisted of grocery shopping, facetiming my family, or exhausting every possibility to get out of town. The dorms were lonely, and life was tough, but I began to embrace the growing pains. When I did, I grew to love not only my independence but growing in my relationship with Jesus. I knew that Jesus wanted me in Winona, it was just a matter of trusting the growing process. Our growth isn’t strengthened in the garden of bright, yellow, blooming sunflowers, our growth is strengthened through our suffering. When we believe in a God of possibilities, a God of miracles, and a God who demonstrates His faithfulness 24/7, we produce a deep and lasting faith with Jesus.

2.     The Ultimate Nourishment: His Truth & Our Prayers

After my freshman year, every semester of college began to get brighter and brighter. I genuinely began to see the purpose in Jesus’ placement for my life at Winona State. It was in the times of trouble and triumph where I found fullness in seeking His truth and praying my prayers. Of course, my own doubt took over a lot, but when I was overwhelmed with anxiety, classes, and volleyball, I prayed. There were times I would run out of the gym in tears and go to the bathroom just to pray. Many times, I would pause in the middle of difficult assignments to fill my head and heart with worship songs and the promises they gave. I needed to be consistent in nourishing my faith through His truth and my prayers. Prayer is the ultimate nourisher, and Jesus paid too high of a price for me to allow my own doubt to trump His truth. 1 John 5:14 says,

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”

1 John 5:14

He is waiting, so eager and willing to listen to us whether we come hungry for forgiveness, courage, healing, or wisdom, Jesus nourishes our needs through His truth and our prayers.

3.     Be Where Your Feet Are: Jesus, How Will You Use Me?

“Alright Jesus, you have changed my environment, planting me in Winona, Minnesota, life is different, and You know I’m not loving life the way I normally do. I am slowly but surely making friends, getting involved on campus, feeling more like me, but I am still not so sure about this place. Show me your way, Jesus! Use me!” This was a conversation Jesus and I had on the regular. I didn’t feel myself. I seemed to be going through the motions, but I continued to hope, pray, and trust that Jesus would guide me into what He wanted me to do. I had seen Him do it before and knew He could do it again.

Every Monday I attended our college ministry at church, but one wintery night at church was different. Towards the end of the message our pastor announced a mission trip to London for the following spring. I always knew a mission trip was something I wanted to be a part of. My heart began to race, and my mind began to run in a thousand different directions. In that moment I knew that I was not going crazy, but that this was Jesus. This was Jesus placing something on my heart and in my head that would not escape until I obeyed Him.

All along, Jesus was saying, “Hey Lex, stay right there. Just wait. Pause. Be where your feet are. I’m moving and I’m working in you, even when you do not see it.” Sometimes staying put, going about our everyday lives no matter how effective or exciting life may or may not seem, grows us. Eventually, it will lead us to places where God wants us to be, surrounded by people He wants us to form relationships with, doing exactly what He has planned all along.

4.     Jesus: Our Expert Caregiver

Jesus has been so faithful to me. He truly is the expert caregiver here on earth that echoes into eternity. I have always known Jesus as a man of expertise but have not always trusted it fully. How in the world could I ignore a God who exceeds my knowledge? How in the world could I deny a God who loves me unconditionally? Why in the world would I not choose a God who chooses me repeatedly? I learned every single one of these answers in trusting in His lasting love.

Jesus knows my heart and my desires better than I do. He has given me numerous opportunities to push my passions. He loves me unconditionally and shows that through so many people in my life, teammates, roommates, friends, coaches, to name a few!

Jesus chooses me on my worst days and on my best days. Sometimes that’s hard for me to grasp, but Him being all-knowing, and all-loving, knows everything from my weaknesses and vulnerabilities to my strengths and passions. Even when His route is unusual, not direct, and seemingly impossible, Jesus is our expert caregiver who desires to always make a way through our suffering and confusion.

Matthew 11:28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

5.   Rooted in History

Blooming into who I am today has been quite the journey. The growing process has been slow, and not always fulfilling, but every time, Jesus continues to reveal who He is. As I reflect on His faithfulness in my life, I gain ground. As I dig deeper in the Bible, I gain ground. When I am jamming in my car, at church, or with my friends, I gain ground. When I share faith and pray, I gain ground. Saying yes to Jesus and trusting Him is the best decision you will make in your entire lifetime. Trusting Him truly becomes your lifestyle. Wherever Jesus plants you, you will bloom with grace! Jesus has a history blooming people wherever He plants them, and I have experienced that firsthand.

FAM, my prayer for you is this,

“You go no place by accident wherever you go, God has sent you; wherever you are, God has placed you there. Christ who lives in you has something to accomplish through you. So, let us believe this and go in His grace, power, and love! Amen!”

Alexis Bass

What’s up FAM?! I am a recently retired senior volleyball player at Winona State University where I will be graduating this May. I am studying Mass Communications and Communication Studies with the hopes and dreams of becoming a sideline sports reporter someday. My heart beats for Jesus, giving people advice and sharing faith. My life motto is to leave a legacy of love wherever you go. Traveling, fashion, coffee, my puppers, and Jesus jams bring me lots of joy!