When God created Eden, He filled the garden with all kinds of trees. Even though the description is not exhaustive, it is enough to paint a picture of a beautiful, inviting, healthy, and prosperous garden. In my mind’s eye, I see a green, peaceful, abundant world where nothing is scarce and joy abounds.
“The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads.”
-Genesis 2:8-10
He loves us enough to want to share this with us. He shared it with Adam, His handiwork that He breathed life into. He instructed Adam not just about the restriction but about the abundance first.
“Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’”
-Genesis 2:15-17
We normally hyperfocus on the restriction because it leads us to the rest of the story. Had Adam taken his position of authority and led Eve, we would not be separated from God. We would all be in Eden, eating from every tree, walking closely with Him, talking with Him, living in His presence. So it is natural that the restriction stands out. We think about it. We question it. “Why would God restrict?” “Why put a tree in the garden that you are not supposed to eat from?”
Some skeptics think harshly about God and His intentions, accusing Him of withholding power rather than seeing the fuller picture. Adam did not deserve anything. God gave him everything freely, an entire garden of abundance, and asked only one thing in return. One instruction. And it was not obeyed.
In my humble opinion, the hyperfocus on what we cannot have is mostly facilitated by Satan. It worked with Eve then and it still works now. He manages to turn our eyes away from Jesus toward the one thing, anything we do not have, that suddenly feels absolutely essential. Something God did not want us to focus on. Something that is bad for us. Something that will keep us away from our Lord.
I can only speak for myself, but no matter how hard I try, I have a tough time obeying. And what is even worse is that I hyperfocus on what is going wrong, on what I do not have, instead of everything I do have and all the things that land perfectly in my world. Paul understands the struggle well.
“For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.”
-Romans 7:15-19
But the wise man that he was, Paul also has a solution. Gratitude. It takes us out of the hyperfocus on what we do not have and redirects us to what we have in abundance: God’s grace and mercy.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
-1 Thessalonians 5:18
I hope you see how full your garden is today. God picked every flower, plant, and weed for you. Rejoice, pray, and give thanks!
Dear God,
I am sorry for all the times I take my eyes off You and get distracted to the point of disobedience. Thank You for being patient with me and continuing to work tirelessly in my life. Please grant me the grace to see Your good work in every aspect of my life. I pray in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.