Weeds Won't Wait - Weeds Won't Last

Hello everyone…God has brought us safely home from Saudi Arabia! Needless to say, home was a very welcomed sight to my husband’s and my tired and weary eyes after being away so long and traveling so far. When we arrived, we found everything safe and secure, just as we’d left it. For these material blessings kept intact, I am truly grateful and praise is generously given my Father for friends who watched over this dwelling we call home. Waking early and enjoying our porch, we spotted a few deer and then smelled a skunk but it was the many weeds that were dominating our view and demanding our immediate attention. We couldn’t totally enjoy all the good for focusing on the tall weeds. Isn’t it amazing how things seem to remain the same yet not so? The thorns, weeds, spiders, scorpions, raccoons, skunks and snakes seemed to enjoy visiting our new wrap-around porch while we were away. Our personal belongings inside remained undisturbed, yes, the material possessions were silently waiting our return; yet, there was also the subtle evidence of this abundance of activity outside…broken pottery, baby scorpions, spiders, webs and weeds, weeds, weeds galore! Even with very little rain, it was obvious that weeds won’t wait!

The more I looked at all the tall weeds, the more I was reminded that life here on earth is a tremendous blessing handed down from God to tend and care for…yes, to nurture and prune. We are stewards and with that comes responsibility. We are here for His purpose which is good and holy, yet we will always have sin attempting to enter and grow in our life in any way it possibly can. Just like our weeds, sin can enter in abundance during unguarded moments yet it doesn’t always wait for an unguarded moment. Satan’s attacks are also very subtle, when everything appears intact and going smoothly, when plans are made and our futures are bright. We must remember that even though God holds our future, we still have to hold His hand to guide us each step of the way. How? We are to live a life led by the Holy Spirit. In Galatians 5, Paul writes to the churches in southern Galatia about our freedom in Christ and a life by the Spirit.

“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other; so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:16-25 (NIV)

The glorious truth of our Father is that He can see the sunshine even when we are buried in weeds and struggling to see and walk through these tall barriers in our life. He always sees the other side. He sees the larger picture. He gives us the freedom to choose a life led by the Spirit. Life will hold many moments…those of happiness, of joy and a future of hope when all of life seems intact…but there will also be continuous trials and tribulations that will test our faith in the One who gives us this life in abundance. The weeds are here surrounding our home as a result of neglect in a certain area, yet they will continually attempt their growth during our happiest of times even after we’ve weeded. The good news is that they are temporary…like our circumstances down here on this earth. God can take all the pain and suffering, the trials and even our sin away and make our path clear again. He can turn everything into good once more. He’s done it for me on more than one occasion.

I lean totally on the Holy Spirit to guide me through the weeds in my life and lead me to my safe home which God keeps intact for me. Thank You, Father, for weeds won’t last while I’m captured in Your reflection.