I don’t know where to start with this. I’m tired. I’m tired of weeds. Weeds overrun my garden. I think my heart and mind are too. There are so many things in life that pull at you. They demand your time, attention, and energy. When you neglect the weeds, they grow stronger, root deeper, and are harder to pull up. Sometimes the weeds choke out the good things you are trying to grow. They steal the nutrients and space away from the things that matter.
What are the things that matter to you? For most of us, it’s our spouses, children, faith, friends, etc. The list goes on, but those are usually the top priorities. In addition, our health and personal mental space matter, although we sometimes neglect the latter over others. When I get so busy with weeds, I often neglect the things that matter.
What are the weeds in your life? What are the things that overcrowd what is most important to you? I’m talking about things that stunt your growth, steal your joy, and overcrowd your life.
Those weeds can be hidden sins, bitterness, unfaced trauma, or something as simple as being too over-committed. When the weeds are young seedlings it’s hard to tell a weed from the good plants. But as they grow bigger, you can start seeing the difference between what’s going to produce good fruit and what is just stealing your time, energy, and peace.
That’s what the enemy does, he comes to steal, kill, and destroy. It’s not always obvious when he comes. He’s sneaky. He wants to take our trust, joy, and salvation. He wants to leave us tired, and weak – not producing fruit for the kingdom of God.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. John 10:10
Jesus wants us to have life to the fullest!! How can we have a full life if we are choked out by the cares of this world?
“‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” Matthew 13:28-30 NIV
So how do we get rid of the weeds that are taking over our lives? How do we fight against the enemy and protect the things that matter? How do we manage our time and commitments to feed, water, and grow fruit?
1. Abide.
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. John 15:16 ESV
We need to make sure that we are abiding by God’s Word. How can we fight against the weeds if we are ready to quit as soon as the weeds come along? Without being connected to our source of strength we are hopeless. We have to be connected to the vine of Jesus or we will shrivel up and fall away. How much time do you spend abiding by God’s word?
2. Consistency.
If I don’t go out and pull weeds while they are little it’s pretty easy to clean out the garden. If I’m not consistent with weeding (and I’m not)… then the weeds start to spread out. They grow deeper into the ground and are harder to uproot. I went out to weed the grass out around my tomato plants but it had grown so thick that the roots had entangled around the plant. So when I pulled up the grass it uprooted my tomato plant! I replanted it quickly, but the shock of being uprooted made it weak and limp for the next few days. It needed water and care to survive.
If I had just been consistent with the weeds it would have never gotten to the point where it ripped out the good things I had growing.
Sin is just like that. It roots down deep. It’s hidden how wild, ugly, and unruly the roots get when they are wrapping around your heart. Sin intertwines with the good and it’s hard to see the effect they are having on your life. But when you face those sins and try to uproot them it hurts. They tear away pieces of your heart with them. It hurts and bleeds but it’s necessary for growth. It can feel like you are yanking out a piece of yourself.
If you are detaching sin from your life it can leave you weak, weary and in need of some tender care from the Son. You need nutrients. You need to be watered and fed so that you can come back stronger and produce fruit again.
“Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)” John 7:37b-39 NLT
“Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” John 4:13-14 NLT
How I long for the Living Water to refresh my soul, to heal my hurts, and to restore my life.
3. Mulch.
Mulch is a ground cover that prevents weeds from growing easily. Sure some weeds still make it through but they don’t have as much opportunity to root down deep. They’re easier to pull up. Maintaining a healthy garden isn’t as difficult if it’s properly cared for, and tended with a nice ground cover of mulch to prevent the weed growth.
I can do nothing on my own. I need Jesus’s grace, mercy, and love to cover my multitude of sins. I also need a community – other believers – as a covering to build me up and help me grow. I need conviction, support, and encouragement to prevent the weeds from growing up and taking over my life.
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:20-25 NLT
I need God’s covering over my life. Jesus’s blood that washes me clean. I can’t depend on my righteousness.
All of us have become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
and like the wind our sins sweep us away. Isaiah 64:6 NLT
Human righteousness is as worthless as filthy rags. We aren’t consistent. We don’t abide close to the vine. We fail time and time again. Thankfully, we are no longer under the law of sin and death. Through Jesus’ righteousness, and His sacrifice for us, we can come boldly before God.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2 NLT
I am so thankful God covers me. He protects me and helps me to grow. I can rest in Him and trust Him. He is my refuge – my mulch.
Psalm 91
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
God is so much more. He’s our loving Father, the tender Gardener, the Son, Living Water, Life, Truth, and the Way. He wants us to thrive not just survive in this life.