I recently learned about a bird in the Australian rainforest called the Cassowary. If you google a picture you’ll see that it is not to be messed with. It can fight off large predators, and even humans!

A little known fact is that it plays a part in germinating the seeds of the rare Ryparosa plant. When these seeds go through the bird’s digestive system, their potential to germinate can go up 90%! 

Apparently, the bird’s acidic digestive system triggers incredible growth within the seed. When it comes out of the bird (through the you-know-where), the seeds produce a plant that yields fruit. The yield is much greater because of passing through the bird’s acidic digestive system.*

Let’s back up a little.

In Romans 5:3-5 Paul shares a pretty phenomenal perspective: “we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Do you see the progression? 

Suffering can produce perseverance
which can produce character
which can produce hope.

In and through it all, God’s love  has been poured into our hearts.

Okay, back to the Australian rainforest. Just as Cassowary dung can increase the potency of Ryparosa seeds, so can hardship fertilize spiritual growth in your life.

This is a hard truth—but it’s still a truth. And if you’re currently going through something tough, I hope it resolves quickly. But the occasional reminder like this one that suffering can grow our perseverance, character and hope might help us push forward in even greater reliance on the transforming power of God.

Get the right support system (and keep going), remain prayerful (and keep going), bear fruit for the kingdom (and keep going).

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Notes and extra content:

–“If you want to actually be like Jesus.” Sermon. Click here. November 3, 2024. Also find it on ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan’ wherever you subscribe.

–*As told in: Mark Sayers, A Non-Anxious Presence (Chicago, Moody Publishers, 2022), 123.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.