Here’s an interesting fact about the lotus flower: it blooms in the mud. Not only that, but it retreats back down into the mud every night, and rises back above it in the sunshine of each new day: petals clean and bright.

I think we could all learn a little something from the lotus flower. Sometimes hard things happen in life, and we are forced to put down roots where we don’t want to. We have to make the best of things, even in circumstances that aren’t appealing to us. There are days where that’s just what it takes to make it to tomorrow. But when we make the best of it, amazing things can happen. We can meet someone incredible, or witness something that captivates us. We can bloom into our full potential, spreading gracefully into our new shape.

The lotus blooms in the mud, but it's not tarnished by the dirt it came from; instead, shining petals emerge over murky water: a reminder that you can escape whatever dirty parts of your past haunt you. You can always make a new start for yourself because Jesus will make you clean.

The lotus has a flexible stem. It bends but does not break. Bad things happen to good people. It’s been quoted for generations and remained true throughout them. But the human heart is resilient. The human spirit can withstand unimaginable odds and still survive: heartbreak, loss, loneliness; the burdens of the world weigh and weigh and weigh until you don't think you can carry them anymore. No matter how heavy it gets, God is right there beside you to help you with the load, and when it becomes too much he will lift it from you. And you bend and do not break.

I think the most interesting thing about the lotus is that inside its seed before it has even seen sunlight or water, its leaves are tiny but perfectly formed. Even though it still has some growing to do, it’s way is already set. No amount of mud, or bugs, or creepy scientists can change that.

There is a plan for your life. Sometimes, it won’t be your plan. Sometimes, you will feel like everything is falling apart. But the leaves inside of you are perfectly formed. You have everything you need to succeed and to be happy.

When life gets crazy, and you feel a little lost, remember the lotus flower. Remember your potential to overcome the dark parts of your past and be reborn. Remember your incredible strength, even in the face of all the chaos and the hardship the world is going to throw at you. Remember the intricate plan that God has for your life, and know that nothing will change the gifts he has given you to help you on your way. The world may think you're fragile, but that's just because they don't know the extent of your incredible strength.