Lesson from the Weed
There are many satisfying moments in gardening, watching new seeds sprout, harvesting those first ripe tomatoes, and pulling big ugly weeds out of the garden roots and all. That victorious ripping sound as the unwanted intruder is permanently and completely removed from the garden never to return and the clean ground that is left behind for the tender plants you wish to cultivate is a simple yet noteworthy accomplishment for the gardener. If left unattended, those weeds would surely overshadow and choke out the helpful plants that we wish to flourish. Weeds are the age-old nemesis of the gardener, and as I was waging my own battle with some unsightly weeds in my garden, I was struck by a parallel to my own heart.
Weeds are everywhere. They are created in a way that gives them an advantage over other flowers and crops. Their seed blows with the wind or sticks into the fur of a passing animal to be carried and spread far and wide. They sprout and take root quickly, emerging with the first warmth of spring and quickly shoot up to great heights. Once grown, they are protected by spiky leaves and their stalks have a weak base that will break and leave behind the roots when they are pulled from the tops. Their roots are hardy and will regenerate a new and stronger plant to replace the torn off top. In so many ways, these weeds remind me of sin that sprouts and takes root in our hearts.
Just recently I was struggling with a sour countenance. I found myself anxious, unfocused, and grumpy. I knew that there was something going on in my heart that was keeping peace and joy at bay. With frustration, I glanced at my actions and words and did not see my faults...I wasn’t doing anything horrible... Because God is a gracious and loving Father who always comes to the aid of His children, He led me to scripture and a devotion that struck my hidden sin right on the head. He allowed me to see my heart the way that He sees it and only then was I able to clearly discern the complaining and divisive attitude I had been harboring in my heart. Aha! There was that root; time to repent and remove that ugly weed of sin from my heart. Instant peace and gratitude followed.
In the garden of our hearts, we must be diligent workers, but it is imperative we work alongside the guidance of our Master Gardener. We may see things in our life that we don’t like and want to change. Perhaps we are impatient, lazy, or a gossip and we may be tempted to simply put forth an effort to try harder not to fall into those behavior patterns. If this is as far as we go with our weeding, it is as effective as pulling the tops off of a mature weed. That root is still in the ground and will most assuredly push out a new bigger and stronger stalk. The soil of our hearts is not prepared, and our hands are not skilled to remove the weed of sin to the root.
When we allow the Master Gardener to water our heart’s soil with His Word, our hearts are no longer a dry hard ground that cements those troublesome roots in place. The watered soil is soft and relinquishes those hidden roots as the Holy Spirit guides our hands to grab and pull. Then we see that glorious sight of the root exposed from its hiding place and the clean spot that is left in the soil where it once grew! Ah! How refreshing and satisfying it is!
You don’t need to have much gardening experience to know that weeding is not a one-and-done scenario. Although you may thoroughly weed a patch of earth, the seeds lurk and will continue to plague the poor little flowers and crops you are tending. You must return to that patch often, ready to observe and work, lest the weeds get out of control and wreak havoc. Be sure to pull those weeds as soon as they are shown to you. Do not let them grow old enough to develop large thorns or spread seeds of their own. Weeds at this maturity are certainly more painful to deal with, but thankfully, with our ever-loving Master Gardener to guide and help us, no weed is ever too big, and no patch of earth is ever too far gone. Praise God for His lesson from the weed!
