Listen for His Whisper

By Paula Williamson Guest writer

If Roses Could Talk

Some people think I have an overactive imagination and that’s where all my stories come from.I don’t agree. More than anything in this world, I long to hear His whisper, to sense His nudge, to follow His lead, and to have God-stories to tell that bring glory to Him. That’s where my imagination truly comes alive—in the space where His voice touches ordinary moments and turns them into treasures.

I have spent more than forty years teaching preschoolers, but truthfully, they were often the ones teaching me. They are never bored with life. Everything is wonder. Everything is new. They take things literally, trust without hesitation, and find delight in the smallest surprises. Their eyes sparkle with curiosity and innocence. Somewhere along life’s long road, we lose that childlike wonder. I believe it is one of our greatest losses.

long to have that kind of relationship with my Father in Heaven—to walk through His world wide-eyed, seeing every detail He crafted with love. Often, in those childlike moments, poems and lessons come to me unexpectedly. When they do, I write them down, and today was one of those days.

A Garden Center Whisper

I drove to the garden center to buy roses—beautiful, fragrant, blooming roses. Now, I don’t know much about roses, so I just picked the ones with the biggest blossoms and the sweetest scents. As I pushed them along in my cart, seasoned gardeners stopped to admire them and offer their hard-earned wisdom. “Cut off the blooms so the roots can establish.”“Give them full sun.”“They don’t like wet feet.”“Don’t get their leaves wet.”“Pruning is essential, dear.”

By the time I arrived home with my beauties, my mind was spinning. Cut off the blooms? These gorgeous, perfect blooms? The very thing that drew me to them? I followed the instructions, dug the holes, and gently placed each rosebush in the soil. The sun was warm, the birds sang, and the day felt just right. Then… that familiar stirring. That holy hush. The sense that God was whispering to me. I paused mid-dig. I wonder what roses would say if they could talk? Instantly, I remembered how each rose in the garden center seemed to call out, “Pick me!” Their beauty was irresistible. And then the elderly woman’s soft warning returned to my mind: “They’ll need a strong root system to make it through the winter.”

Roots. Strength. Survival. Suddenly I knew: This wasn’t just about roses.

Pruning Hurts, But It Heals

I held the pruning shears in my hand and looked at the roses—full, vibrant, radiant. Yet, I knew what had to happen. I had to cut off the very blooms I loved. It felt cruel. As if the whole garden sensed it, a hush settled in the air. I imagined the little roses with wide eyes watching me approach. “Why would you do this?”“Why cut off something so beautiful?”“Why take away what makes me shine?”

Their blooms fell to the ground one by one. And right then, the Holy Spirit brought a scripture to my heart:

John 15:1–2“I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser…Every branch that continues to bear fruit, He repeatedly prunes,so that it will bear more fruit—richer, finer fruit.”

Oh, I knew He was speaking. I could almost hear the cries of the roses—confused, hurting, unaware that cutting back now would mean flourishing later. I wondered: Do we do that with God? Do we assume He’s cruel when He removes something precious? Do we accuse Him when things don’t go our way? Do we forget that pruning isn’t punishment—it’s preparation?

It cost me something to cut away those blooms.Love does that. A gardener’s heart does that. God’s heart does that. We are much like those rosebushes—proud of our little blossoms, confident in ourselves, strutting our stuff. Then along come the shears. Not because He’s angry. Not because He’s harsh. But because He sees what we cannot: next season.next spring.the greater fruit. It isn’t sunny days and easy paths that build deep spiritual roots. It’s trials. It’s testing.It’s trusting the Vinedresser.

When the Shears Come

James 1:2–3 says:“Consider it nothing but joy… when you fall into various trials,knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance—leading to spiritual maturity and inner peace.”

Oh, how hard that is to live out.But how necessary. Help us believe You when You say:“More fruit is coming.”

Closing Prayer:

Lord, when Your pruning shears come—when trials cut deep, when circumstances strip away what we thought we needed, when life feels barren for a season—help us not to grumble or grow bitter. Help us not to judge You as unkind. Help us trust that Your hands are gentle, Your timing is perfect, and Your pruning is always for our good.

Devotional Takeaway:

If roses could talk…they might just thank the gardener later. Gratitude changes us from the inside out.

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This blog was taken from my book, Listen for His Whisper, a free download.