I’m still working on finishing the fence around our future garden. Between long workdays and shrinking daylight, I’ve resorted to wearing a headlamp to squeeze in a little progress after dark. But lately, I’ve developed another obsession: composting!
Our neighbor’s maple tree has been dumping mountains of leaves onto our lawn. What once annoyed me has become a gold mine of organic matter! I’ve been piling nitrogen-rich grass clippings and carbon-rich leaves in the garden, turning them every few days. Last night, I was greeted by a glorious cloud of steam rising from the center. It’s working! I’ve never been more excited about rotting vegetation!
I’m also raiding the kitchen for scraps. Coffee grounds, banana peels, eggshells, vegetable trimmings—you name it. Last weekend’s guacamole preparation was a composting bonanza! Avocado skins, cilantro stalks, lime peels, and onion scraps all went into my rotating compost barrel. Every other night, I give that thing a spin, eagerly anticipating the transformation.
What was once garbage will eventually nourish our garden and help produce something wonderful.
Isn’t that how God works?
I don’t know what scraps you’ve accumulated over the years, months, or even minutes. Regrets? Failures? Shameful decisions? Painful experiences?
Here’s the wonderful truth: God doesn’t waste what we surrender to Him.
When shame reminds me of my past sins, I have a choice. I can keep digging them up, allowing yesterday’s failures to poison today’s peace, or I can surrender them to Christ, receive His forgiveness, and allow those painful memories to teach me wisdom, humility, and compassion.
Think about it. That failure might make you more patient with someone struggling. That painful experience might equip you to encourage someone who’s ready to quit. Even the consequences of foolish decisions can become powerful reminders to walk more carefully with God.
But transformation requires surrender. Compost doesn’t become fertile soil by sitting untouched, and spiritual maturity doesn’t happen by clinging to guilt, bitterness, or regret.
So what are you still carrying that God wants to transform? Stop dragging yesterday’s garbage into every new day…that’s what God is telling me lately. Confess what needs confessing, forgive what needs forgiving, forsake what needs forsaking, and learn what needs learning. That’s how the scraps of life get broken down into something useful…and how we can move forward in life toward a fruitful future.
