“All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” – 1 Peter 1:24 (NIV)
Have you ever stopped to consider what you’re cultivating in your life?
The Nature of Temporary Things
This verse paints a vivid picture of our reality. The grass grows lush and green. The flowers bloom brilliantly, catching every eye. But the season changes, and they fade. This is not being pessimistic; it is simply the nature of temporary things. Your career achievements, your physical strength, your social status, even your most impressive accomplishments, are all like grass. Real, and beautiful, but not everlasting. These things demand your attention while promising fulfillment that is for a short-term because they will fade.
What Truly Endures
Here is a question for you. If the material things in your life will eventually fade, what are you investing in that will endure?
Things that truly last aren’t found in your bank account or your resume. They’re not measured by square footage or followers. They show up in quiet moments you might overlook. The time you showed up for someone even though you were exhausted. The forgiveness you extended when bitterness felt more justified. These are the things with roots that go deeper than grass. Love given freely to others, the character you build through choices no one sees and the way you impact someone’s life with a word of hope when they need it most. Things that are sustainable, not trendy or impressive, but aligning with what endures forever.
A Moment of Honest Reflection
Think about the last week of your life. Where did most of your energy go? What consumed your thoughts? If you’re like me, you’ll find that the temporary things have a way of screaming for attention while the eternal things quietly wait for whatever’s left. You have no time for what matters. The things that matter are getting the scraps of your time and the dregs of your energy.
Choose What You’ll Cultivate
Here is the truth, you have the power to shift to what matters by being intentional. You choose to cultivate what lasts. Investing your best hours, deepest passion, and greatest effort into things that will not wither when the season changes.
Your Challenge: Take fifteen minutes today before doing anything else to write down three enduring things you want to cultivate in your life in the next thirty days. Then choose one tangible step you can take this week to nurture it. Not someday. This week.
Don’t just read this and move on. Don’t let this be another good thought that fades by tomorrow. The grass is already growing. Make sure you’re planting something that will outlast it.
