This past Saturday was a picture-perfect day here in central Iowa. Blue skies, temps in the mid-70s, a light breeze. Everything you could ask for. As I walked Maisy before it got too hot, I could hear the neighborhood buzzing with lawn mowers, weed whackers and sidewalk edgers.
I had already mowed my yard a few days before, and had weeded the front landscaping, so all that remained was the back yard. That was the outside activity through which I planned to enjoy this gorgeous day.
Now before you start feeling sorry for me, or heaven forbid, chastising me for this ugly job on a beautiful day, know this. I kind of like pulling weeds. In fact, I’ve often told people that weeding is my hobby. That was certainly true during the 27 years of country living where I had an abundance of flower beds and landscaping that needed constant attention.
Much to Dale’s dismay, I’ve even been known to pull a few weeds from the entrance to a restaurant as we walked towards the front doors. I simply can’t help myself!
So being a weed professional, I have learned through the years which weeds come out with virtually no effort and which will require some serious work with my serrated garden trowel. That foreknowledge actually leads to some anticipatory joy when I get to a section with weeds that I know will give me no resistance. Not so much with the pesky dandelions and thistles.
I’m sure you’ll be relieved to know that this post isn’t just about weeding. (I know you were starting to wonder …)
Oh no, as God so often does, he spoke to me through a mundane job like pulling weeds. Because, as of Saturday, I had no blog topic. He came through as he always does!
As I was pulling a section of “easy weeds,” my mind went to the scriptures where Jesus tells the parable of the sower and the seeds. If you’re unfamiliar with the story, you can read it here, from Matthew 13:1-23.
The short explanation is that those seeds that don’t have an opportunity to grow a good root system are easily dislodged from the soil and end up producing no crops. But those whose roots sink deep into the soil will bear much fruit.
I began to think of these easy-pull weeds from the perspective of Satan who wants to minimize or eliminate our witness to the world. If he’s a weed puller, if you will, which weeds is he likely to go after first? Well, it could be the ones that are separated from the soil with the least amount of effort.
Does he do the same with us? Does he look for opportunities to stifle someone’s spiritual growth because he sees that they have virtually no root system? No faith that’s anchored deeply in God’s Word?
As a weed professional, I do love those easy targets, but that doesn’t mean I’m satisfied with leaving the dandelions and thistles. While they aren’t as enjoyable a target, I’m willing to get that serrated trowel out and put in a little more effort to rid my yard or landscaping of those nasty weeds.
Do you think Satan is satisfied just ruining the witness of baby Christians, or perceived weak believers? Likely not. He, too, will go to the extra effort of digging deeper, and using nastier weapons in his arsenal in an attempt to mitigate or destroy the witness of Christians with a deep faith and trust in God. We are a greater danger to Satan’s work!
So, in this upside-down weed world, we want to be the pesky dandelion!
But unlike myself, who ultimately triumphs over the tough weeds that end up in my yard trash bags, Satan is not always successful. He will, however, keep trying.
Our best defense against this evil weed puller, is to, first of all, recognize that he’s out there! Don’t be fooled into thinking he won’t expend any effort on separating you from the good soil (God and his word).
Secondly, do all you can to help your root system grow deeper – spend time reading the Bible, engage with other believers in Bible studies or other conversations about God, seek to be fed from solid, biblical preaching. All of those activities help you to reach deeper into God’s protective soil.
Most importantly, ask God to help you grow in your faith so that those roots grow deep and produce the fruit that God desires for you.
And know this – if you are a true believer, there’s nothing Satan can do to “extract” you from God’s good garden. God has already won that battle.
Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
James 4:7-8