Weeds in the Garden
Psalm 46: 1-3 God is our refuge and strength, a help always near in times of great trouble. That’s why we won’t be afraid when the world falls apart, when the mountains crumble into the center of the sea, when its waters roar and rage, when the mountains shake because of its surging waves.
Last weekend was unseasonably warm for February. It was nice enough that I was able to enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee out on the back deck Saturday morning. As I was sitting there, I was looking at the small patch I’d cleared last year to plant a couple of tomato plants.
I’m not much of a gardener, even though I love fresh vegetables. I have nightmares of weeding my folks’ garden, which was well over an acre. I could, and would, spend entire days with a hoe in my hands chopping weeds, or if they were too close to the plant, pulling them. It seemed like I’d get to the end of a row, turn around and there would be a few pests popping back up.
Thinking about those weeds got me to thinking about a conversation I’d been a part of with a friend several years ago – long before I was an official card-carrying Christian. I believed, but I’d yet to accept Jesus Christ as my savior, and further, I’d yet to be washed by the water. Anyway, he was sharing with me some of the things that had gone on in the last 18 months of his life.
He shared the agonizing loss of his wife due to cancer. And because of the physical stress and demands of caring for her, he’d suffered some major health issues as well. In addition, he’d lost his job and really had no income to support himself or their kids. As he described what had been going on, I couldn’t help but be amazed at the smile on his face and the light and life in his eyes. I point blank asked him, “Are you ok? You sit there describing what could be considered the most horrific 18-months a person could endure and yet you continue to smile.
His response, “I have my Lord!” and then went on to paraphrase the passage above. He admitted that he’d not been perfect – there were plenty of times he began thinking about everything that was, or had gone on – and he would get scared and be fearful for what might come next. Then he’d remember that the Lord is his refuge, and a calm would come over him like no other.
Fear can be like those weeds, popping up over and over again and unless you actively work at it, they’ll overtake your life like weeds will the garden. As you can tell by my attitude at the beginning, I’m still not one to weed or hoe a garden, but I do weed my life. I’ve experienced some times that at best were not easy and left me fearful for what may come next. As I’d face the situation, I’d weed that fear out of my life, knowing God is my safe spot. Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Put on my yoke, and learn from me, I’m gentle and humble. And you will find rest for yourselves. My yoke is easy to bear, and my burden is light.”
I’d like to say that I diligently work in my garden, but there are times that I’ll miss a day or two. I might even just sit there and let the weeds grow taller and jeopardize the work that I’ve done, but eventually I humble myself and ask for help. If you feel as though your life is overgrown with “weeds”, do a little weeding and lift up you concerns to Him. “Father God, you are my safe spot – my refuge, clear my garden of the weeds. Amen”