Every Thursday, I water my indoor plants. I’ve got a fiddle-leaf fig tree (a plant well known for its finicky nature and a proclivity to simply die without warning) standing tall and proud by a window with southern exposure. I’ve noticed, though, that this little tree bends itself dramatically toward the window even though it’s placed squarely in the light at all times. It gets the best light in the whole house. Still, it bends and reaches for the sun—so much so that I’ve taken to giving the pot a good quarter turn most days.
In my backyard, the previous owners planted a slew of azalea bushes—all kinds and colors—in the beds surrounding the patio. They were planted decades ago, so they’re large and mature, producing brilliantly colored blossoms every spring. Because of the shade provided by the densely leafed tulip trees overhead, the azalea bushes grow horizontally rather than vertically. It’s the strangest thing, all those branches growing sideways. But when the sun is at its brightest in the middle of the afternoon, it’s obvious what happened to those azalea bushes. They’ve bent and grown toward the light.
My plants are doing what God instructed them to do. Written into creation is God’s plan for growth. Sunlight is essential, as is water. When our plants die, it’s often because of lack of light or moisture. So, if one of those things is less accessible than it should be, a plant will lean toward what it needs. We humans, on the other hand, will bend toward whatever gives us the most pleasure, physical comfort, and approval, no matter how it affects our health and growth. I see it in myself all day long. When I feel a bit bored or am standing in a line at the pharmacy, I reach for my phone to mindlessly scroll social media. When I’m anxious, I want to numb my mind with television and a snack that gives my angsty hands something to do. Some of us lean towards more dangerous things to soothe an internal ache. Alcohol or substances. Maybe excessive shopping or expensive vacations.
While the things we lean toward for comfort won’t give us what we need, they will shape our hearts in worldly ways. The more we self-medicate with television or movies, the more our thoughts will align with our secular culture. The more we give ourselves to food or drink, the more we will desire food and drink beyond their normal benefits. The more we build our lives around luxurious living or extravagant purchases in a desire for fullness, the more we will expect a life of ease and comfort. At times we lean toward what we want more than what we need. And what we want in our flesh cultivates a love of this world rather than a love for Christ and a commitment to His kingdom.
It’s no coincidence that Jesus called himself the light of the world. In John 8, Jesus says that those who follow Him will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life. Back in John 1, John calls Jesus “the true light” that shines in the darkness, never to be overcome by the evil of this world. Following Christ, then, means living in the light—leaning toward the One who gives us peace, life, growth, faithfulness. Knowing Him in the Word, time spent in prayer, fellowshipping with the saints, meditating on Scripture—these acts of obedience will not only satisfy our hearts but will shape them to be like Christ’s. God has always had a plan for our spiritual growth.
Sometimes I get bogged down in everyday living and I find myself desperate for distraction. I can get sucked into a Netflix binge just as easily as the next person. And I find that what I lean toward, I become like. Rather than having my thoughts revolving around Christ and my purpose as a Christian, wife, mom, friend, and church member, I get wrapped up in the fictional minutia of entertainment. I’ve watched others fight the same kind of unhealthy bending in different ways, all of us trying to live on what will never nourish our souls. I’m not saying that every form of entertainment, every vacation, and all kinds of shopping are all inherently evil. I gladly enjoy God’s common grace in the forms of rest and humor and something that adds to the hominess I try to cultivate in my house. We can enjoy good things on this earth. But anything can morph into an idol, churning worship out of our hearts when we bend toward things that can never satisfy us but which always shape us in their image.
When I find myself spending copious amounts of time pursuing distractions, my prayer has become one of crooked house plants and branchy, horizontal azaleas: “Lord, bend me toward the Light.” Distractions are just that—distractions. We aren’t meant to spend our time and mental margin on things that do not feed our souls. We’ll wither up and die without spiritual nourishment, especially if our flesh is yearning for what the world offers. So, these days I’m praying to stop the scrolling and swiping and episode-bingeing by bending toward Christ. If my heart feels anxious, it doesn’t need Netflix. It needs Jesus. “Lord, bend me toward the Light.” I can open my Bible and meditate on my daily reading. If I can’t seem to focus on work, my mind doesn’t need Instagram. It needs Jesus. “Lord, bend me toward the Light.” I can pause to pray and work on memorizing a verse of passage. I need His words, prayer, and time with Him in all the parts of my day, every time my heart and mind are seeking fulfillment. He satisfies. He is the light that dispels darkness, shaping us to be like Him as we bend in His direction. Growing toward Him means we will become like Him. In a world that screams for every moment our attention but robs us of true rest and growth, may the Lord bend us toward the Light, the true Light.
In a world that screams for every moment our attention but robs us of true rest and growth, may the Lord bend us toward the Light, the true Light. Share on X
Photo by Roosa Kulju on Unsplash
Glenna Marshall is married to her pastor, William, and lives in rural Southeast Missouri where she tries and fails to keep up with her two energetic sons. She is the author of The Promise is His Presence (P&R) and Everyday Faithfulness (Crossway), and Memorizing Scripture (Moody). Connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
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