This morning my schedule looks like somebody lost a fight with a calendar. Meetings. Errands. BBQ'ing, Phone calls. Life doing what life does.
But I made time for one thing: coffee.
As I sat there enjoying a few quiet minutes with Jesus and caffeine, a thought hit me. It's funny how God can give us a clear answer, yet curiosity keeps trying to negotiate.
I started thinking about the fig tree Jesus approached in Scripture. From a distance it looked healthy. Full of leaves. Full of promise. Looking like it had something to offer.
But when He got closer, there was no fruit.
A lot of things in life are like that.
Opportunities. Ideas. Plans. Goals. They look good from a distance, so we invest time, energy, money, and hope. Then we finally get close enough to see them for what they really are.
No fruit.
Just leaves.
The frustrating part is that sometimes it never promised more than what it was. We just saw what we wanted to see because we were hungry for progress, answers, purpose, or change.
Then after wasting gas, money, and enough time to qualify for overtime, God gently reminds us:
"Son, I didn't tell you to eat from that tree."
That'll preach.
The lesson isn't that the tree was bad. The lesson is that not everything that looks good is meant to feed you.
Sometimes God lets us walk all the way up to the tree so we can stop arguing with His answer.
Because once you've seen there's no fruit, curiosity has to sit down and faith has to stand up.
So I drank my coffee, laughed at myself, and thanked God.
Some lessons cost money.
Some lessons cost time.
The expensive lessons are usually the ones you never forget.
Y'all, I think Dunkin' has been ""Breadcrumbing" me for almost 3yrs, lol 🤣🤣🤣. This isn't the coffee for ME. Its not bad but its unfulfilled promises OR its coffee for someone else. Either way...now I know for sure.
And maybe that's fruit too.
Reflecting on this story about the fig tree really struck a chord with me in my own life. I've often found myself excited about new opportunities that seem full of potential, much like that healthy fig tree full of leaves. But upon investing time and energy, the results sometimes end up disappointing—no substantial 'fruit' to harvest. This reminds me that appearances can be deceiving, and what looks promising from afar may not nourish us after closer inspection. In my experience, it's essential to cultivate discernment, not just based on hope or desire but on tangible outcomes. This doesn't mean giving up hope but rather learning to listen when signs indicate that something isn't the right fit, even if it initially seems attractive. Also, I've learned that some of the most valuable lessons in life come from these moments of unmet expectations—counting both the cost in time and resources, but appreciating the clarity they eventually bring. Just as the story highlights faith standing up once curiosity has stepped down, I find that trusting the process and believing in a bigger plan helps me move forward without frustration. This perspective encourages me to remain patient and faithful rather than clinging to plans or goals that show no real growth. And sometimes, like the author’s humorous mention of coffee from Dunkin’, recognizing what no longer serves us—even if not outright bad—can be liberating. Life’s figurative fig trees teach us that it’s okay to walk away from what lacks true nourishment, ensuring that our energy and faith are devoted to what truly bears fruit, whether personal growth, relationships, or work projects.
