Old Growth

Saguaro Cactus

🌵 Old growth appears in many ways... 🌞

Age, wisdom, life experiences. Sadness. Joy. Laughter. Loneliness.

Here in Arizona, these stunning saguaro cactuses have captivated me my entire life. Growing up in Montana, I only saw them in pictures or on rare visits to the sun during long winters. But now, they are part of my everyday view — standing tall and ancient, scattered along the roads I drive and the spaces I live in.

Lately, I’ve walked through some very dark days — days where loneliness felt like it would swallow me whole, days I questioned how I could keep going. But even in the shadows, a light kept pulling me back — the steady light of His word and presence.

The other day, I stood beside this saguaro, and as I looked closer, I realized something profound. Behind this towering cactus was the sun — hidden, but not snuffed out. Blocked, but still shining.

And I saw myself in that cactus.

You see, saguaros grow slowly — painfully slow. It can take up to 100 years for them to grow just one arm, depending on how much rain falls. But when they finally branch, they become a home to life, a shelter in the desert, a testament to endurance.

Our walk with Jesus is like that.

Sometimes we stand in seasons of drought, sometimes abundance, sometimes we are a shelter for others, and sometimes we stand in darkness, feeling as though growth is impossible. But the light is always there — stronger than the darkness. And when we lift our eyes, when we lean back into Him, we remember: He never left. He never turned away. He was always holding us up in ways we couldn’t see.

Yesterday, as I sat with these thoughts, I found a small drawing in my Bible — a stump with a green shoot growing out. It was next to Isaiah 62, a reminder that new growth comes from what has been cut down.

Later, my son sent me this quote: "In order for trees to grow to heaven, their roots must dig deep into hell." — Carl Jung.

And suddenly, it all clicked.

The deep roots of pain, loss, and breaking I’ve experienced these past three years — they are making room for new growth, for a new branch in my life.

God is calling me into a new season. A season where my story, my growth, and even my scars can bring Him glory.

So if you’re standing in the dark today, remember: The light is still shining behind you. Growth may be slow. But He is not done. A new branch is coming. 🌿

#FaithJourney #OldGrowth #SaguaroStrength #Isaiah62 #RootedInChrist #NewSeason #HopeInDarkness #SpiritualGrowth