Have you heard God calling to you in the garden? In the Garden of Eden, this garden calling detail is easy to breeze by, with the gorgeous scenery of good, fruitful, and mysterious trees (Genesis 2), and the ensuing disruption (Genesis 3) that takes all the attention. How many times I have brushed past this tiny, heart-harkening detail: God’s calling.
But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:9 RSV
God called to Adam, and this show of personal interaction is the Lord’s trademark. It is a small but brilliant flash of His character and window into His manner of conduct—His loving dimension of focused attention for His people. It astounds me every time I remember that the great Lord Almighty, with a “to-do” list longer than mine (!), calls to each of us, a legacy established in the first garden.
Although this first-garden story is inciting and instructive in so many ways, for now, let’s linger in the small yet profound gesture of God’s garden calling. His personal pursuit and encouragement for His people is glimpsed throughout Scripture, especially in Mary’s praise.
I know that I am not an important person. God knows this, and he has been kind to me. Listen! From now on, all people will say that God has made me happy. Luke 1:48 EASY
The Lord is mindful of our humble state; that is, the things troubling our hearts, our hurts, our quandaries over the future. Through all that scatters us, God summons us.
God’s Comfort
Another glimpse of God’s calling is found in the New Testament Word, paraklesis. Paraklesis is the refreshing consolation of the Lord, which steadies and soothes us in Him, usually translated as “comfort.” He is ever-ready with His support and solace, yet the paraklesis definition includes a summons: He calls to us to come to Him, to draw near, to be captivated in His cache of comfort.
Thus, His comfort moves us in the unfolding. beckoning salvation in Christ; Jesus our Savior is our flow of comfort and reviving.
And just as we experience the abundance of Christ’s own sufferings, even more of God’s comfort will cascade upon us through our union with Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:5 TPT
Reflecting this idea towards the Garden of Eden exchange, we can see God summoning Adam with His question, back to His comforting surround and ultimate healing and restoration. We know this by His subtle interplay—concurrent with the curses resulting from Adam’s turn away (Genesis 3:14-19), God fashioned for him and Eve comfortable clothing (v.21). Where are you, Adam? Why aren’t you near me? I’m calling you back to me.
The Lord initiated his call back, and gardens everywhere resound this calling.
Garden Calling
With holidays on the horizon, garden work winding down, and a season of steamy mugs and twinkle lights ahead, let us be restored in God’s garden calling and keep company in His comfort for the joyful times ahead.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercy and the God of all consolation. 2 Corinthians 1:3 NCB
For the Lord will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the Lord; Joy and gladness will be found in it, Thanksgiving and the voice of melody. Isaiah 51:3 NKJV
All the nations of the Earth will get a blessing for themselves through your descendants. And why? Because Abraham obeyed my summons and kept my charge—my commands, my guidelines, my teachings. Genesis 26:5 The Message
Come to me, all of you who are struggling and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 CJB
They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more. Then young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. Jeremiah 31:12-13 NIV
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Psalm 94:19 NIV
God sent me to announce the year of his grace— a celebration of God’s destruction of our enemies— and to comfort all who mourn, To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, Messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. Rename them “Oaks of Righteousness” planted by God to display his glory. Isaiah 61:2-3 The Message
We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too. 2 Corinthians 1:5 The Message
We share in the terrible sufferings of Christ, but also in the wonderful comfort he gives. 2 Corinthians 1:5 CEV
For even as His suffering continues to flood over us, through the Anointed we experience the wealth of His comfort just the same. 2 Corinthians 1:5 VOICE
My love calls to me: Arise, my darling. Come away, my beautiful one. Song of Songs 2:10 CSB
Does your life in Christ give you strength? Does his love comfort you? Do we share together in the spirit? Do you have mercy and kindness? If so, make me very happy by having the same thoughts, sharing the same love, and having one mind and purpose. Philippians 2:1-2 NCV
All you who work hard! All you who carry heavy loads! Come to me! I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 WE
When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your comforts delight me. Psalm 94:19 AMP
The Lord called out, “Samuel.” He answered, “Here I am.” He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, you called me.” He said, “I did not call you….Then Eli realized that the Lord had called him. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down. If he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” So he went and lay down in his place. Then the Lord came and stood and called out as he had the other times, “Samuel, Samuel.” Samuel said, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:4-5, 8-10 NCB
My brother, because you are out there encouraging and reviving the hearts of fellow saints with such love, this brings great joy and comfort to me. Philemon 1:7 VOICE
I am full of comfort, and fuller still of joy, over and above all our trouble. 2 Corinthians 7:4 NTFE
Closing Prayer
Let us answer your call, O Lord! Let us be listening and enlivened by Your voice. Let us be ready and be mindful of Your gestures of comfort. Keep my heart healthy and workable – I don’t want to be hardened ground, hospitable to only thorn and thistle (Genesis 3:18)! Lord Jesus, thank you for rescuing me and refreshing me, O God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:2); Your comfort abounds in Your forgiveness. It is possible to be comforted with joy even in the midst of troubles. O God, I am grateful for Your possibilities (Mark 10:27, 14:36)! These are Your summons: Come near, stay close to You. I agree, You are the best place to be. In Jesus name, Amen.
And now, God, do it again— bring rains to our drought-stricken lives So those who planted their crops in despair will shout “Yes!” at the harvest, So those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing. Psalm 126:4-5 The Message
Do you love to hear the Lord in the garden? Then you will love My Father is the Gardener, Devotions in Botany and Gardening of the Bible
Listen for God’s voice in these Devotions Blogs: Garden Communion, A Garden Named for Jesus, I am the True Vine
Photo Credits: ©Shelley S. Cramm, cover photo taken in Meg McAndrews Cowden’s Minnesota garden, visit www.seedtofork.com
AMP notes Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
CEV notes Scripture quotations taken from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
CJB notes Scripture quotations taken from the Complete Jewish Bible by David H. Stern. Copyright © 1998. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Messianic Jewish Publishers, 6120 Day Long Lane, Clarksville, MD 21029. www.messianicjewish.net.
CSB notes Scripture quotations taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
EASY denotesEasyEnglish Bible Copyright © MissionAssist 2019 – Charitable Incorporated Organisation 1162807. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Message denotes Scripture quotations taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries.
NCB denotes Scripture taken from the SAINT JOSEPH NEW CATHOLIC BIBLE® Copyright © 2019 by Catholic Book Publishing Corp. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
NCV denotes Scripture quotations taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
NIV denotes Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®
NKJV denotes Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
NTFE The New Testament for Everyone, Third Edition, Copyright © 2011, 2018, 2019 by Nicholas Thomas Wright. The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. All rights reserved. Published by Zondervan, 2023. Grand Rapids, Michigan USA www.zondervan.com
RSV denotes Scripture quotations taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
TPT denotes Scripture quotations taken from The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017, 2018, 2020 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com
VOICE denotes Scripture quotations taken from The Voice™. Copyright © 2012 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
WE denotes Scripture quotations taken from THE JESUS BOOK – The Bible in Worldwide English. © 1969, 1971, 1996, 1998 by SOON Educational Publications, Derby DE65 6BN, UK. Used by permission.
