A Faith Journal

A few years ago I wrote about how weed pulling had similarities to our lives (various lies taking root). Well, today I’m going to add to that thought. You should first read my previous post here then come back to read this one. I promise this will make more sense if you have read the previous one recently or before this one.

I still have my dirt patch that constantly needs weeds pulled. Now I’ve filled it in with rocks though because my black thumb killed the plants that once lived there. Yet no matter what I do, weeds love to grow in that spot.
Last year was rough for me for obvious reasons (lots of change). Because of that and because I was in a head space that someone else was going to come along and fix the problem so I wouldn’t have to put in the work, I let my weed patch grow. There was so much life in that patch, more than I’d ever seen in that dirt patch. Yet every piece of growth was a weed. It had its own beauty in the fact that every piece grew and expanded despite the odds. The vines outgrew the patch and expanded to my back deck and wrapped themselves around any object in its path. The thistles grew tall and bloomed. Yet despite or maybe because of its destructive beauty, I did nothing to stop it last year. The weather turning cold was the only thing that stopped the weeds from taking over completely.

As the warm season approaches this year, I’m seeing all the destruction that the weeds caused. I actually found trees growing in spots I wouldn’t have thought possible. Yet the weeds had worked the ground and given the trees a path to follow. Now I have bigger problems to deal with. What all has taken root since the weeds took over.

(There is a story that may need a deeper look later, but not today. Growth can happen, it doesn’t mean that it is a good growth that will bring goodness to your life.)

Now if I look at the overgrown weed patch from the perspective of my life, what areas have I let the lies take over and what has taken root? Just like the removal of vines and thistles both alive and dead usually require the help of others and the proper equipment,the removal of lies is going to take the same type of assistance. Friends, family, a therapist, a community of others as well as my own desire to improve will be needed to dig deep, fight through the thistles of life to find that rocky dirt patch. Oh and some heavy duty weed killer, AKA God. No patch of dirt stays weed free without some work, so why not have an “easy” way to tackle it. Stay in the truth and the lies are less likely to take over our lives (our own personal dirt patch).

In the last few months, I have begun to tackle the lies and overgrowth of my life. My life is still a hot mess of overgrowth and lies that I’m finding slipped in when I wasn’t paying attention. I was on autopilot for longer than I care to admit. As I have come out of autopilot, I have found people to surround myself with to lessen the load of digging out the lies and overgrowth. While not easy it has been a blessing. One other lesson I’m learning in all this that I know God has been telling me about for years is that asking for help is not a weakness. It is actually a sign of strength and growth. Life was meant to be done in community and the strongest communities do life together.

In the coming months, more growth and change will be coming. I ask that if you consider yourself a part of my community, you pray for me to lean in and follow God’s path for me. No matter how overgrown it is right now, I know He’ll be leading me where I need to go. It can just be a little scary at times.

Lord,

Thank you for being kind, patient and full of grace with me. I know I’ve let the lies take root and interfere with my purpose. Please forgive me and my stubbornness. I ask that you push me to embrace my community and their help even though it seems awkward and unnatural for me at times. I know your ways are better so break me so that Your goodness and strength will shine through me. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray.