The Spicy Hot Climate

If Texas summers were food, I would call them spicy hot—day after day of temperatures over 100 degrees, little rain, and few clouds. Even the water in swimming pools is too hot to really refresh! Many of our plants are suffering by drooping and dropping their leaves and flowers, but not all of them. Our crepe myrtles are flourishing with abundance blooms. I think God made them for the spicy hot climate.

For what climate did God make you?

Some of us actually enjoy spicy hot lives that take faith and courage to follow God’s vision. Others relish working behind the leadership of others, holding onto their excitement and catching their ability to see a better future and press toward it.

You may notice the gifting and strengths of others and want what they have instead of focusing your time where you flourish. It may be that you tend to want to be like someone else rather than gratefully accepting the way that God has made you. But God has a purpose and a plan for you, and he made you exactly as you are in order to fulfill it. Rather than envying others’ gifting, consider leaning into who you already are and giving God room to help you bloom.

I learned to focus my life where I get to use the strengths that God has given me, and it has made all the difference. Although I have God-given gifts and use them to the utmost that way, I am still dependent upon God for the power and results of my service to him.

Life is too short to try to live as someone else instead of being the person God designed you to be. Find your climate and live in it as much as possible. Enjoy the spicy hot climate if you are so inclined, but look for a cooler place to live if not. God will give you joy and abundant blooms when you do.