Jeremiah 17:8 (NKJV)
“For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.”
Have you ever tried digging a garden and all you keep hitting are rocks? Maybe it was just making a hole for a fence post, and you discover a large Stone in the center? How about not being able to dig at all because the ground is so hard?
If you have done any type of gardening or landscaping in your lifetime, then you know how frustrating it is when you keep hitting obstacles when you just want to finish the project. At times I have encountered extremely large rocks when all I wanted to do is transplant a potted flower.
It’s very similar to other tasks we tried to complete in life, and we find an obstacle there. Sometimes we can mentally prepare for a tough situation, but we may not be ready for what we run into. You figure you may need new brakes when you take your car to the garage, and they tell you that you need two tires and an exhaust system too.
That may be a little extreme, but rocks you encounter while you dig through a situation come in many different sizes. We may not be able to control when these obstacles will pop up. However, we can restrict how we respond. Frustration can be our first stop along the path that includes anger, depression, anxiety, and even just giving up.
I have had internal symptoms that affected me physically and external explosions that may have been like launching a shovel across the yard. Neither fixed the situation nor did anything for the damage I caused to myself or the world around me.
The feeling of frustration mixes with other emotions and keeps coming back again and again and again in different forms. This is why we have to take a step back to examine how we react. Even a pause during our reaction can be at least a pause in the situation as well. At least for a moment.
Where we go from there would be the next step we would have to figure out because we will always encounter rocks in our way. It doesn’t matter if they are expected or not, they just have to be dealt with. Most of the time patience is the key to our reaction after the pause.
I once spent time every day digging post holes by hand. About two thirds of the way through the project I found that very large stone in the center of my next hole. I couldn’t change the hole location. I couldn’t use a one foot instead of a three foot hole. So, I had to bang at it with a digging bar until I cracked it enough to pull it out of the hole. Life is the same way, but where do we get the patience?
I had to learn and practice this for many years. It was like my walk with Jesus. I spent many years trying to plant the seed of the Holy Spirit when my heart was like the ground in Matthew 13:5, “Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.”
Too many times in my life I knew what scripture said and what I needed to do, but my faith was not rooted as it should have been. Soon I experienced what is written in Matthew 13:20-21, “But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”
I spent years removing more and more rocks so the roots could grow deeper. I spent time in prayer and reflection to break up the hardened spot so that the growth could continue. But that was only half the battle. I had to make sure that those roots were watered with the water that could only come from Christ.
Pure refreshing water of life that will always be there no matter what season of life you are in. A wet and nourishing season or a drought filled period that turns the soil of our hearts hard or so dry that the ground becomes soft dust that will no longer hold the roots securely.
During these times we have to rely on the depth of our roots. May they always be able to reach the living waters of the Lord. Two Old Testament prophets told us what we need to do. In the opening scripture, Jeremiah tells of the trees planted by the river. The faithful are those trees that continue to get nourished by the Lord and withstand a drought.
Later, while Israel was in captivity, Ezekiel told us something very similar.
Ezekiel 47:12, “Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.”
One before captivity and the other during, both say the same thing. Just as we need to react the same when times are okay and even when they are not. This is why we need to stay focused on and faithful to the Lord. This is the only way we can continue to remove the rocks or be able to break up those hard spots when times are tough.
Join me in removing any stones that hinder our relationship with God or prevent us from growing the strong roots being fed by His word.
Sometimes it feels like little things are getting in my way,
From trying to figure out what to do or the words you want to say.
It’s almost like wanting to dig a garden and I keep hitting rocks,
The harder I attempt to break the ground the more the shovel stops.
Progress is slow to keep moving and my strength begins to fade,
And then soon I start doubting all the plans that I have laid.
Lord, as I pause to rest and take a breath my mind falls on you,
I need to ask for more strength and guidance on what to do.
Dear child, you reaching out to me is only the first step to take,
You also need to dig into my word to help with the decisions you make.
It will begin the process of preparing your heart for my love,
So what you learn can be planted and find all my gifts from above.
For this cannot happen if you if your heart is like rocky soil,
Unable to allow the roots of your salvation a chance to really uncoil.
You do not want your faith to dry up when you’re not sure where to go,
But cling to me for the life giving water so you can Continue To Grow.
Simple Faith Christian
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Simple Faith Christian 