You don’t think about what’s buried in your soul until everything else in life gets stripped away. Until the job title is gone. The schedule is cleared. The noise settles. And what you’re left with... is you.
That was me. I had just left my fast-paced career, had a baby, moved away from my community, and suddenly I found myself staring into the mirror asking, "Who even am I?" What was once distraction had become silence—and in that stillness, I heard something: longing.
Something inside me was trying to germinate. But I didn’t even know how to name it yet.
Germinate. Where does that verb come from? It comes from the root word germ. So what does the word "germ" really mean?
It’s the tiny, living embryo at the center—the part that holds the future plant. It contains everything needed to become: roots, shoots, and eventually fruit.
It’s small. Hidden. Vulnerable. But it’s alive.
The rest of the seed exists to protect that little germ until it's ready to grow on its own. And girl, that is exactly what God does with us. He plants the seed of purpose inside our souls—a whisper, a tug, a longing that won’t go away—and then He surrounds it with protection, until we’re ready to surrender to the growing process.
What comes to mind is wheat germ. That is something that was always in my mom’s pantry and I have absolutely no idea what it is, or what it does. But I do know it’s some form of health food because that’s just who my mom is. So I googled it: Wheat germ is the nutrient-rich part of the wheat kernel that contains the embryo of the future wheat plant. Embryo. That’s a word we associate with human life. That idea is the cornerstone of healthy eating. To sustain your health to the fullest potential, the best way to do that is to put in living organisms to support YOUR living organisms. Life supports life. Not only does the wheat germ contain life, it contains POTENTIAL.
Psalm 84:2 NKJV says, "My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God."
That’s the holy ache I felt in that postpartum wilderness season. Not just a longing for sleep (though YES), but a longing for meaning. For connection. For the truth of who I am and why I’m here.
We all have this sacred craving wired into our soul: the desire to live a life that matters. A purpose that aligns with Heaven. The ache is proof of the germ inside you.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 NKJV tells us, "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts..."
That ache in your chest? That weird feeling like you were made for more? That’s eternity showing up in the middle of your grocery list and unfinished to-do pile.
John 15:4 NKJV says, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me."
We want to bloom. To bear fruit. To make an impact.
But first, we have to abide. Root down. Get honest. Dig beneath the surface and ask:
What is my soul actually longing for?
That longing? That’s your starting point. That’s the germ of your God-given purpose. That purpose absolutely will not come to life by willing it too though. Like trying to will that extra 30 pounds of baby-weight to exit with the sweat through your pores. It just won't. You can't muscle it into happening. It has to come from a transformation of your identity.
That starts when we start small, build momentum, and over time, it will begin to shift.Instead of striving for a massive life overhaul, what if you started with a single seed of intention?
A daily rhythm of journaling. A Scripture placed where you'll see it. A mindset card you pull when life goes sideways.
These are the tiny habits that water the roots of the purpose God already planted inside of you.
Because life supports life.
So here is your "Gardening Task" (aka homework)
Take a few minutes of quiet in the morning before the family wakes and journal these questions:
What do I want life to look like 5 years from now?
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How do I want to feel in my body?
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What kind of relationship do I want with God?
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What seeds am I planting now that will help me grow there?
You are not behind. You are not broken. You are planted.
Even if it feels hard. Even if the soil feels dry. Even if you’re still figuring out what that little germ inside you even is—you are not alone.
Let’s water it together. Let’s stay rooted. Let’s grow what God already planted.
Because that longing you feel? It’s not a weakness.
It’s holy.
If you need help getting started, I've got a few really great resources for you:
Products to Support Your Growth:
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Peace in Your Pocket Cards: Daily encouragement for when life is lemons.
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My Cycle Tool Journal: Reframe patterns. Rebuild rhythms. Reclaim purpose.
Want more? Tune into the Planted On Purpose podcast where we unpack these truths and plant seeds of peace, purpose, and personal growth—one episode at a time.
[Listen to the episode: "What's Your Wheat Germ?"]