Faith is facing reality without being discouraged by it.
Returning home from our 4th of July mini vacation, I hopped on the four wheeler and headed to the watermelon patch. I was very anxious to see how my plants were growing. Weeds, weeds, and more weeds! I couldn't even see my watermelon plants for all the weeds.
My poor patch had been neglected by me. I wish I could blame it on being out of town, but the truth is I've only pulled weeds once since planting each little watermelon seed. A few weeks ago when we went to see how they were doing they were great. AND there were only a few weeds. No big deal…right?
Wrong! Dead WRONG!!! It's been a rainy season and the weeds love it! I had my work cut out for me. 27 stakes worth! I knelt down in the dirt and began to pull weeds one by one. The first few weeds I pulled came out with out a problem. I thought to myself…this is going to be easy!
Reaching down I pulled another weed. I quickly let go. It had thorns. How could a weed with a pretty, yellow flower hurt so much? I needed help. I had to run to the house to get some gloves. I came back and pulled some more. I had to pull a lot harder than I did with the previous weeds, but I finally got it!
It was a long evening pulling weeds. My faith came face to face with reality. Just like weeds enter our garden and patches; sin, trials, and temptations enter our hearts. I regret neglecting my garden. The weeds I allowed to overtake it and rule. Pulling each weed, God reminded me it's also important not to neglect our hearts. Our sins, trials, and temptations can overtake us if we let them take root.
When I let fornication take root in my heart, I couldn't stop on my own. I knew it was wrong, but it was like that weed with a pretty flower. The thorns hurt every time I went to pull it. But God! Like the gloves, He helped me when I was truly ready to pull it and let it go.
Do you have weeds that are choking the life out you? What are you waiting for…start pulling and give them to God!
Look toward your DELIVER rather than you difficulty.
