I just had one of those days that makes my heart sing. We took a quick trip out to Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, to visit Ott’s Exotic Plants. If you’re ever about forty minutes northwest of Philadelphia, you have to go. It’s not just a greenhouse; it’s a total experience.
You know, I always try to look at the positive in everything. And when you walk into Ott’s, you step out of the Pennsylvania cold and right into a tropical rainforest. It’s this enormous complex, established way back in the 70s, and it’s filled with life. There’s a two-story indoor waterfall, a koi pond, and all these amazing palms, ferns, and orchids. It felt like we were instantly transported.
But the real lesson, the real moment that stopped me in my tracks and gave me a powerful devotional thought, was their famous Mountain of Mums.
The Glory of the Mountain
During autumn, Ott’s builds this incredible floral display—a forty-foot mountain of chrysanthemums. I’m talking six to ten thousand mum plants, all stacked up. You can climb to the top of it!
I stood at the bottom, looking up at this riot of color. It was vibrant, it was overwhelming, and it was absolutely glorious. It was a beautiful, powerful show of God’s creativity.
But then I thought about it: this magnificent mountain of color only happens now. It’s a seasonal thing. The mums bloom so beautifully, but their vibrant color is brief; it’s an autumn glory.
It reminded me that our faith has seasons, too. And I’m telling you, this is something we need to talk about.
A Time for Everything
We often put this enormous pressure on ourselves to be in a constant state of “Mountain of Mums” faith—always vibrant, always blooming, always ready for a photo op. We want the world to see us sparkling and full of color all the time.
But the Bible tells us a different story. Ecclesiastes 3:1–2 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot.”
Even God’s creation moves in cycles.
Think about your own life:
- The Season of Bloom (The Mums): This is when your faith feels easy. You are worshiping, reading your Bible every morning, and your prayers feel like they are hitting the ceiling and bouncing right back as answered blessings. You feel vibrant, useful, and ready to climb any mountain. This is a gift! But it’s not the only season.
- The Season of Dormancy (The Roots): This is the time to uproot the old shame and plant new seeds of truth. This is the quiet, hidden time. You might feel “hollowed out,” like that old log we saw in New Hope. Your prayers might feel dry. You might feel like you’re not doing anything “big” for God.
But here is the thing: that dormant season is not a loss; it is a gift of preparation. What he needs is not our constant blooming, but our trust during the quiet times.
Growth in the Greenhouse
The whole greenhouse at Ott’s is a perfect picture of this. It’s full of tropical and exotic plants—orchids, ferns, and palms. These are plants that would never survive the Pennsylvania winter on their own. They need that controlled environment, that constant warmth and humidity, to thrive year-round.
I looked at a delicate orchid, and I thought, I am that orchid.
I need the greenhouse. I need that controlled environment where I am protected from the harsh, cold winds of the world—the fear, the anxiety, the self-doubt—that can just kill my tiny new growth.
What is your spiritual greenhouse?
It’s your morning devotional time. It’s the time you spend in prayer, even if it’s just five minutes in the car before you start your day. It’s the constant warmth of God’s Word surrounding you.
We can’t just rely on our own strength to bloom. We have to stay in the environment He has created for us.
The Beauty of Being Exotic
We saw all these rare, exotic plants. They were beautiful because they were different. They didn’t look like the common houseplant. They had unique shapes, colors, and needs.
Maybe you’ve tried other things to fit in, to look like everyone else’s perfect faith journey. But God has made you exotic. He has made you rare. You have a unique story, a unique testimony, and unique gifts.
I remember those seven years of infertility, feeling like I was failing at the most natural thing a woman can do. I felt like I was the wrong kind of plant for the garden. But I trusted the Lord. And that pain, that deep, hollow space, became the richest soil for my ministry.
God doesn’t want you to be a common weed. He wants you to be a rare orchid. He wants you to be beautiful in your own specific way.
So, whether you are on the vibrant Mountain of Mums, full of color and energy, or you are in a quiet, dormant season, remember this:
You are in His greenhouse. He is the one providing the warmth, the water, and the perfect environment for your growth. Every season is ordained by God for His glory.
Don’t give up. Let Jesus do for you what only He can do: create stunning, exotic, year-round beauty in your heart.
Have a great night.