This is our field that was just planted. Just a week ago the fields were dead, they looked just terrible. The farmer had come in and sprayed the fields to get rid of all the weeds before planting. The weeds had taken over the field leaving it brown and scraggly looking. You would think nothing would be able to grow in them. Then they came in and right on top of that dead looking field they planted soybean seeds. The amazing thing about it is that the seeds are growing, even with all the dead weeds around them. The water from the rains and the heat from the sun have caused the seeds in the soil to burst open. The soybeans are growing among the weeds. Soon the green, bushy soybean plants will completely choke out the dead weeds.
This reminds me of our walk with Jesus. With the right amount of water and Son, we can grow where He plants us. Maybe to the soybean plants that have just popped through it looks a little daunting, all those overpowering weeds around. But, we’ve felt that way a time or two, haven’t we?
As I walk and look out at that field, so many lessons for me come to mind. The seeds are planted deep in the soil. He sends the rains to nourish, refresh and cleanse the soil of impurities, and He sends the Son to draw us upward to Him. God doesn’t wait until our lives are completely cleaned up to move in. God’s grace and mercy can grow in our hearts even when we still have weeds that need plucked. In fact, God will help us with the weeds because the more the freshly planted seed grows, the less weeds there will be in our lives. Growth is an amazing process. Just like the soybean seeds, if they are not growing we are dying. We must consciously absorb the water and reach for the Son so that we’re not choked out by the weeds.
Just like God can change a field that is completely overrun with weeds and scraggly brush, He can change our hearts, one row at a time.