Y’all! Bluebonnets are here! Yes, they arrived early. Typically, this gorgeous Texas state wildflower blanketing fields and highway medians greets us in early April. This year (2024 for the record), however, bluebonnet season has sprung in early March.
Why? It’s complicated. It involves warm weather, the timing of a late winter freeze, soil and erosion patterns, winter rainfall (Austin, TX received 6.07 inches January, the highest in 15 years), drought conditions the previous summer, and the extensive ecosystem behavior of all other prairie grasses and wildflowers.
Like I said, it’s complicated. But no worries. God’s got it all taken care of. With a a divine algorithm of engineering, color palette, petal formation, rainfall, temperature, and the precise location of every single bluebonnet that germinates to the exact height it needs to spring up and colorfully shout God’s praises in chorus with other bluebonnets — it’s all orchestrated by God’s love. For you.
God didn’t create the world for himself. He created it for us. People. Sinners he loves so dearly that he planted his own beautiful Son in the ground, buried and dead, to come alive and bring life to us all.
So consider this, Texans and all y’all. God didn’t sacrifice his own Son for bluebonnets. He acted in this unselfish, powerful love for all sinners.
God loves you more than bluebonnets! Jesus wants a relationship and spiritual intimacy with you more than with bluebonnets. God the Holy Spirit has plans and purposes for you that far exceed the glory of a majestic field of bluebonnets.
Jesus once said, “See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:28-33).
So get out there, people! Take those photos of you with your pets, your kids, or your in-laws visiting from California. And believe this: the most beautiful scenery in the photo is not the bluebonnets.
By God’s grace and promise, it is you. Bloom in all your beauty.
PRAYER: God, thank you for the beauty of bluebonnets and other spring flowers. They come to life in a majestic array that reminds me of your promise: you love me and rejoice in me more than bluebonnets. Help me to believe that today. Amen.
EVANGELISM ACTION: Take a friend who needs Jesus into a place with flowers. A field. A florist shop. Easter Sunday filled with lilies. And tell them, “I just want you to know, God sees you as more beautiful than these.” Just don’t sniff them, that’s awkward. Your friends, I mean.