Tackling Our Weeds

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Gal. 6:9 NIV)

Moving has provided many memorable stories and gleanings from the Lord. From fires to wallpaper removal, Jesus continues to teach me. This past summer was no different when we tackled our landscaping, which had obviously been ignored for a few years.

Our new yard was much larger than our previous yard, and we were excited for the kids to have so much room to play and run around. However, more yard equals more work. We had simplistic landscaping at our old house, with some ornamental grasses. Our new home was the complete opposite, with large landscaping beds all around and a wide variety of plants in each bed.

When things began to grow in the spring, I downloaded an app that would identify each plant. The app helped me distinguish between actual plants and weeds. Unfortunately, I soon discovered that our landscaping was being overtaken by a very intrusive weed, the thistle.

It honestly felt like a never-ending battle with the thistles. Finally, after a whole-family effort of weeding all the landscaping beds and spreading fourteen yards of mulch on them, I thought we were done! We had beautiful beds that were weeded and freshly mulched. Then we went on vacation. I can still hear the moans and groans of my kids as we pulled into the driveway after our vacation. There were so many thistles in the flower beds. It was a defeating feeling. We felt like all our hard work had been fruitless.

However, we went out there and pulled them all out again. And then again. And again. By the end of summer, the newly sprouting thistles were few and far between.

I recently read Genesis 3, which refers to thistles growing in our land and how working the land will be painful and produce sweat of the brow. I felt seen as I read those verses. I was covered in dirt and sweat many days after spending the afternoon weeding.

A wikiHow article describes the thistle as follows:

“Thistles are one of the most stubborn weeds out there. They’re so invasive and obnoxious that it’s even illegal in some places to not remove them.They can be really tricky to kill, but you can definitely get rid of them if you’re persistent. It will likely take you 2 or 3 growing seasons to completely remove them, but don’t get discouraged.”

I love how it calls out being persistent and not getting discouraged.

The thistles in my landscaping and the work it took to keep them at bay can translate to many other areas of life. Life is not easy, and sometimes it feels like we are continuously facing opposition or hard situations. Sometimes we want to give up.

I’m not going to lie; when I came home from vacation and saw all the thistles, I wanted to say, “Forget it.” I was ready to let the thistles win. But I pulled them, bagged them, and dragged them to the road to be taken away. And week by week, I could see a difference. Every week, fewer and fewer thistles began to sprout up.

Friend, I don’t know what your current thistle is, but I can assure you, you are not alone. We all have weeds in our lives. We all have something we wish we didn’t have to deal with. Unwanted circumstances and trying hardships sprout up in everyone’s lives. But we need to put on our gardening gloves and do the weeding. We need to be persistent and not give up.

We also need to remember we are not doing the work alone. We have a Master Gardener who is with us and desires to help us!

Dear heavenly Father, we come before you today and thank you for your ever-constant presence in our life. We know you will be present with us every minute of every day and that there is no circumstance or situation we will face apart from you. Lord, when life is feeling hard and the weeds are overwhelming, give us the strength to persevere and not give up. In the powerful and precious name of Jesus, Amen.

Scripture for Reflection

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Rom. 5:3-5 NIV)

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4 NIV)

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” (Heb. 10:36 NIV)

Reach for More

It’s time to put on our gloves and do the hard work of weeding. We need to persevere and not give up. I like visuals, so I think I am going to find some gardening gloves on clearance and put them on my bookshelf as a reminder that I need to persevere at tackling the weeds in my life. And remember, the Master Gardener is always with us and will give us the strength to keep at it if we cling to him!

Heather Gerwing is living the full life with her husband, Jeff, four kids, and a dog in Metro Detroit. Heather enjoys reading, writing, coffee-ing, and serving in youth ministry. She was born a Jersey girl and feels most at home on a beach. She is the host of the monthly link-up, Share Four Somethings. You can join Heather on the journey to living the full life at www.heathergerwing.com.