Awaken What God Has Planted

Have you noticed an abundance of acorns this season? 

In 2025, many regions have experienced a “bumper crop” with each tree producing many times its normal amount. This occurs every 5-10 years. 

I encourage you to go on a walk, pick up a tiny acorn, and marvel at its design.

Friends, you are like an acorn: small, yet filled with gigantic possibilities.

Inside every acorn is the full potential for a majestic oak tree. It also contains everything needed for the initial stages of growth. By God’s design, just like the tiny acorn, God has placed in you everything needed to grow into all He created you to be. 

Pause and reflect:

• Do you know what God has placed uniquely in you?

• Are you willing to surrender to the process so it can begin, grow, and mature?

Growth Requires a Nurturing Environment

The journey from seed to mighty oak is deeply impacted by the environment of the seed. Only fertile and nurturing conditions allow a tree to mature. And by God’s design, growth is not quick. 

Every oak has lived through many seasons—weathering storms, enduring drought, and standing firm through times of abundance and lack.

A Nurturing Environment: Water is essential. An acorn on the ground is in a dormant state. Water “awakens” the seed—softening the hard outer shell and activating enzymes within the seed to spark growth.

John 4:14, “…the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.” 

Jesus is the Living Water. He softens our hearts and activates spiritual growth. As we spend time soaking in His Word, transformation begins.

A Nurturing Environment: The seed must be grounded. The first visible sign of life in a seed is the emergence of the root.  It anchors the seed, so it isn’t swept away in the next storm. Loose, nutrient rich soil allows air to flow and ignite the metabolic processes. 

Ephesians 3:17, “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love.”

It is the love of God which grounds us. His love provides rich soil—allowing what He has planted in us to grow, thrive, and flourish.

A Nurturing Environment: Light must be absorbed.

Acorns that fall in the shade cannot thrive. Though light is present, it is blocked, preventing the biochemical reactions needed for a seedling to emerge.

God calls us into the light:

1 Peter 2:9, “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

To grow fully, we move from darkness—distractions, fear, sin, discouragement and receive the fullness of light, which is Christ Himself. He does the transforming work, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, we live in His light.

A New Season

As we move into a new year, take time to recognize what God has planted within you. It may be something new, or perhaps something that has been lying dormant for a while. 

2 Peter 1:3, “for His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” 

Allow possibilities. Invite awakening of your soul and let God stir what may have been lulled to slumber, inactivity, or suppressed dreams.

Isaiah 61:3 tells us that it is God who makes us into:

“Oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.” 

Step Out

Go on a walk.

Find an acorn.

Hold it in your hand and ponder the transformation it undergoes to become a mighty oak. 

Give God space to speak to you about what He has planted in you. 

• Surround yourself with a community of faith. 

• Choose to spend consistent time in God’s Word. 

• Position yourself where the light of Christ can shine on you brightly.

Something small—like the acorn—has within it God’s design to display His splendor for all to see.

Share a comment about how God is speaking to you, or what step you want to take to create a more nurturing environment for growth. Your thoughts may encourage someone else on their journey as we grow together…