The unexpected storms of life and the spinning whirlwinds they create can destroy the fruit of the Spirit produced through us. I planned to pick strawberries this past week in North Carolina. Then, I realized that a recent storm and tornado had destroyed the strawberry field. I was surprised and wondered, “How often does that happen?”

After researching, I discovered it happens a lot. In fact, flooding from California’s Pajaro and Salinas rivers damaged hundreds of millions of dollars worth of strawberry fields last year, affecting about 20% of strawberry farms in that area. It made me wonder how storms of life can also destroy the fruit of the Spirit our Potter produces through us.

In this article, we will join the fruit-bearing vessel named Little Pot and revisit how the Potter continually produces His fruit through it. From planting God’s Word to growing strong stems of integrity, we will delve into how the fruit of the Spirit grows when faced with adversity. If you’ve had a life storm around you recently, this article provides guidance and inspiration to keep you shining bright like our little vessel named Oil Lamp. So, let’s join the Potter’s vessels as they embark on this journey to discover how to keep the fruit of the Spirit growing, no matter the storms we face.

Read more: Beware of the Storms of Life: How to keep the fruit of the Spirit growing.

The Little Pot Where Strawberries Grow

We can “learn a lot from The Little Pot” about growing the fruit of the Spirit. The Little Pot is a vessel created by a Potter. After the Potter creates it, it gives it many things to hold. Each time the small vessel holds something new, it allows the items to be its identity. For example, when it holds papers, it believes its purpose is to be a smart paperpot. When it holds coins, it believes itself to be a rich and wealthy pot. As the Potter empties Little Pot, it feels unfulfilled and without purpose. Eventually, the potter plants something inside the pot. Then, the tiny vessel strives to grow flowers and become a beautiful flower pot.

The Potter, however, is growing strawberries through Little Pot. You see, we are just like this little vessel. We find our identity in the jobs, careers, friends, family, and possessions that we each hold. We give ourselves titles and names based on these things. Consequently, when we lose them, we feel empty and without purpose. The Potter created Little Pot to be His fruit-bearing vessel. Our Potter wants the same for us. He wants to grow the fruit of His Spirit through us.

How the fruit of the Spirit is produced

In the story, strawberries grow inside Little Pot. The strawberry plant’s cycle mirrors how the fruit of the Spirit can grow through us. It requires seven steps. You can read lessons about each step by clicking below.

1. The Vessel – Knowing Your Identity
2. Humus soil – Humility
3. A seed – God’s Word
4. The Stem – Integrity
5. Photosynthesis from Leaves – Nurturing Relationships
6. Flowers – Blooming Knowledge
7. Fruit Happens

The Bible describes the fruit of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. These virtues are evident in those who allow the Holy Spirit to live through them. How exactly does the Holy Spirit produce them through us? Little Pot and I would love to share more. Just enter your first name and email so we can send you a FREE Bible study that includes the seven steps above. Then, you’ll get a fruitful Friday email each week with ways to be even more fruitful!

Then, let’s get back to discussing the storms of life that sometimes destroy the fruit after it has grown.

Identifying Your Storms of Life.

What storms have hit your life recently? Have you had bad news that flooded your world? Maybe it was a medical diagnosis, illness, job loss, a friend who turned on you, or just a dark and lonely feeling that left you fruitless. After love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness have grown, we believe a season is here where the fruit of the Spirit is flourishing through us. Then, something stormy happens in life, and it feels like the season ends. It is easy to believe the fruit is wasted. However, like the strawberries in those fields, the fruit of the Spirit will grow again, even in hard climates. They just need strong roots.

Are the roots beneath your fruit still strong?

Fruit can regrow after a storm if it has strong roots. We recently wrote a series of nine posts about the roots beneath the fruit of the Spirit. During the study, we dug up answers to the following questions:

• Who is God?
• How do I Know When God Speaks to me?
• Where is God When it Hurts?
• Who is the enemy, and how can we fight with spiritual warfare weapons?
• How will my life have a positive impact?
• Serving God by serving others: How can I make the most of my life?
• What about money?
• How and why should I tell others?
• Is church important?

Knowing the answers to those questions will allow us to get through the storms of life. Remember, when the storms of life hit, people need to witness our love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control the most.

Conclusion: Preparing for the next Storms of Life.

Storms of Life will come and go. After living along the East Coast, I learned how important it is for people to be prepared before a hurricane. The grocery stores would fill up and people would buy things ahead of time in case they could not get out after the storm. One storm left us without power for almost two weeks. Therefore, if you are not currently going through a storm, know that one will come. Prepare yourself now with a strong root system, and let the fruit of the Spirit flourish!

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Become the vessel the Potter created you to be.

Grow fruit like Little Pot, serve and pour into others like Tea Pot, shine like Oil Lamp, and support others like the cracked jar. Sign up below and join me on the journey to become the vessel our Potter created us to be!