No One Wants to Weed

Everybody wants the blooms, no one wants to weed.

The reality is that if we don’t keep up with the weeds, they will affect the harvest. I hate weeding and come to think of it, I‘ve never met anyone who likes it.

I’m going to be really transparent and tell you that God has been clear about what weeds need pulled form my heart right now. I’m struggling with comparison and envy.

Envy reminds me of the huge weeds that shoot up tall before you even notice their existence. They look menacing, but when you actually go to pull them out, they are mostly water. They look tough and imposing, but they’re almost hollow. Comparison is just like this; it has no substance. It’s not based on what I actually need at all (God always gives that), but rather on what the enemy can convince me I need.

There is no substance in his claim, but it looks convincing. Whatever they have can seem better than what I have.

I do a lot of gardening, so I know from experience that when you pull a weed, there is one ready to spring up in its place. If you want to stop weeds, it’s best to plant something intentional in the space. I’m intentionally going to plant recognition and thanksgiving in the specific places that I have envy and comparison popping up.

Counting my blessings helps me see them more clearly. That sounds simple but it’s really true, it fixes my focus. Because of the simplicity, it is easy to do. There are tons of studies you can look up about the positive effects of a grateful heart. It has all kinds of mental and even physical benefits on top of the most important one: it’s an act of obedience.

But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves

with one another, they are without understanding.

2 Corinthians 10:12b

When we compare ourselves to each other we are clearly missing the point.  The NLT says, “But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!”

The only measure we are supposed to use is Christ, and none of us can measure up to that. Comparison also shows my lack of understanding that God has given me exactly what I need.

He made me, how do I keep thinking that I know what I need or when I need it?

I’ve been reading 1 Peter, and this morning I noticed this specific cool phrase in Chapter 5.

Peter is warning us about the devil prowling around “like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour”, and then it says “Resist him, firm in your faith…”

When I hear him roaring I don’t have to turn and fight him, I just resist him.

I stand firm in my faith.

What makes this effective is that my faith isn’t in me. I’m extremely aware and thankful that this doesn’t depend on me. My effort is important, but ultimately, my faith is based on His faithfulness.

"He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

I can face the roaring because my daddy is right behind me.

I need to start weeding comparison and envy. If I keep wasting my time on other people’s lives, I’m not tending to the one life God has given me. I don’t want this scheme of the devil to steal any more of my joy or waste any more of my time. It distracts me and pulls energy away from my own life.

What is distracting you and pulling energy away from the right things in your life?

What needs weeded out if we are going to bloom?

Where do you keep trying but not having success?

How can you better place your faith in His faithfulness?

Steal this prayer and ask God to show you, ask Him for discernment to see through the lies and recognize your enemy.

Father, I get used to the enemies’ voice in my head. Help me to recognize his deception. Show me where I am believing something about me or about You that isn’t true. Show me how to resist as I stand in Your faithfulness and remind me I am not alone. You are faithful to do the work in me. Remind me that it isn't based on me, and that you can multiply my effort.