One book that I enjoyed reading in the past is The Secret Garden by Frances Burnett.
To make a long story extremely short, the book is about a beautiful rose garden in Yorkshire, England in the early 20th century. Like all the other gardens at the manor, it was walled off. This specific garden had a door which was locked and the key was buried. The door was covered and hidden by a thick growth of ivy. After 10 years, a young girl found the key to this secret garden and then found the door. Through the open door, the girl and her two friends went back and forth to transform the neglected garden back into a thing of beauty.
In a way, we all have a secret garden inside of us that needs a caretaker. That caretaker of course is Jesus. I pray for many people who will not let Jesus into the garden of their lives, most of whom will not listen to me regarding such important matters. I pray that they would let Jesus in and be transformed.
But maybe, rather than praying for a sudden transformation in their lives, I should start by praying that God would help me find their key. And then, pray that God would help me find and open their door. And then, that God would let me go back and forth through that open door, working and taking part in Jesus’ miraculous transformation of their lives.
Isn’t that the way that God works His miracles? He opens doors to the secret gardens and lets us work with Him.
“Meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ…” Colossians 4:3