“Once upon a time, there was a farmer who set out to plant his seeds for the season. The farmer scattered seed across the field, and some seed fell on a footpath, where they were stepped on and eaten up by the birds.
Some of the remaining seed fell among a bed of rocks. There, the seed was able to grow but the sprouting plants soon wilted and died due to a lack of water supply.
Seeds were scattered far into a bush of thorns, where they tried to grow with no success because the thickness of the thorns choked the tender plants.
Finally, a portion of the seeds found themselves on fertile soil. A small area of the farmers land that had been cultivated for seeds such as these. These seeds grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” (Luke 8:5-8)
This story comes from the book of Luke, one of the four gospels in the Bible. Jesus often spoke to His friends, family, and followers in parables; stories that could be related to and easily understood.
The beauty of scripture is that it is timeless, not trending. The words that were written have been translated over time to better meet the language that we speak today. Despite any changes, the core of the message has stayed the same.
In verse 11, Jesus goes on to explain, “The seed is God’s word. The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the enemy come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved.
The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation.
The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly are crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.
Finally, the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.” (Luke 8:11-15 NLT)
Seasons of Faith
As soon as I committed my life to Jesus, I was convinced that all the work was done and I’d be “good to go” the rest of the journey. “This will be easy!”, I’d thought, “Jesus loves me this I know.”
Although the love of Jesus has and will always be a constant, just like the sun will always be a life source to a seed, I’ve learned that I am in control of the soil’s health in which my faith is rooted in. Like the farmer, I have control of where I am planting.
It doesn’t take many gardening tips or YouTube videos to learn that if we try to plant a seed on the sidewalk, the only thing we are going to see grow is a weed. Similarly, if we try to take that same seed and plant it in a bed of rocks or a bush of thorns, we aren’t going to see much production of anything we can eat or enjoy.
Thankfully, Jesus isn’t judging you based on your gardening skills. What He is most concerned about is the “soil” in which we have planted our faith. What is the condition of your soul’s soil currently?
Do you have a shallow soul that possesses little to no room for faith in much of anything?
Is your soul feeling rocky after a big life event that’s caused an internal earthquake?
Does your soul feel like it is being suffocated by the people or circumstances around you?
Or does your soul feel rich and dense, filled with nutrients of joy, peace, love, and endurance?
No matter where your soul stands today, Jesus gives us an abundance of resources to help us root deeper in our faith. He wants to see us root, grow, harvest, and repeat. Over the years, life has brought many storms and circumstances that have tried to uproot my faith. Below, I’ve shared a few of my own soul’s gardening tips that help keep the ground I’m rooted in nourished and rich.
Rooting
- Develop a regular routine of reading the Bible or listening to an audio of it.
- Find worship music that moves you.
- Join a church or small group
Growing
- Read scripture and memorize verses that stand out to you.
- Journal your gratitude.
- Pray by yourself and/or with others.
Harvesting
- Serve or volunteer somewhere in your community.
- Host a small group or bible study.
- Share God’s word openly.
Jesus didn’t promise an easy journey after committing to Him. He knew it would be hard, there would be trials, and that sometimes we would give up entirely. His compassion, gentleness, and love are more powerful than our quit.
Through a little wisdom, determination, and grit we too can plant our souls into soil that is rich with life giving nutrients.
The challenge for you today is to tend to your soul’s garden. Find out the state that you are in and address it. I encourage you to take the first step in believing that your soul is absolutely worth it. You were given a purpose, and Jesus wants to help you grow in it!
My prayer for you this week is that you look beyond the ground you may be currently rooted in and see the value of your soul’s seed. I pray that you feel refreshed in your worth and desire the best environment for your soul to keep growing.
If you are here on this earth, you were made to flourish in the garden. Now, let’s go root, grow, and harvest a life worth living!
May the peace of Jesus fill you and protect you along the journey.
Makenna Curtis
Faith, Family, & Entertainment Writer
Local Pulse Pensacola
