Recently, an interaction with nature – growing a small vegetable and yam garden gave me an interesting experience of God’s Word. My garden brought back wonderful memories of my short stay with my beloved Aunt Josephine at Abraka, Delta State when I was 8years old. She gave me and two other kids that lived with her a small patch of land to grow vegetables. I grew groundnuts, tomatoes, pepper, and water leaf. Each of us was also given a hen to take charge of. That experience gave me a strong sense of discipline as I had to oversee my ‘farm’ and hen with utmost care. I took my responsibility very seriously. I also developed a love for the land. Those memories are some of my treasures.
So as part of the preparation for my garden, I had to clear the weeds and water the land for planting. As I worked, it suddenly dawned on me that while I had to go through a process to get the land ready for planting, these weeds didn’t have that same care. No one I know plants weeds. They just appear on any soil area – with ease. No one waters them or oversees to their wellbeing. In fact, it is quite the opposite as we love to pull them out and sometimes, we apply some chemicals to get rid of them. In other words, good riddance to rubbish.
Yet! These weeds flourish and if unchecked, can become a burden to deal with. Revelation hit me like a ton of bricks – didn’t Jesus tell us about learning from the birds who live with ease in teaching us not to worry about the issues of life?
“Look at the birds of the air for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they are? Mathew 6.25. NKJV
As the birds live, so the weeds flourish. And these things happen because the earth belongs to the Lord and all who live in it and He has chosen and given His Word to provide for everyone whether plants, birds, creatures and MAN!
Why do we worry about solving life’s issues on our own terms, dealing with challenges in our own wisdom when the OWNER OF THE EARTH has undertaken to take care of even the least of creation.........weeds! Are you not much valuable than these weeds, yet they feed and overrun the best of lands with ease. While still meditating, more truths came knocking. What God wants us to have is a REST – not the physical kind that is of a temporary effect but the spiritual that gives inner peace and assurance about your life’s concerns.
HIS REST is an experience that cannot be adequately defined by words. I pray that you will have those restful times in your challenges and issues of life. It comes because you have taken your case before Him to seek guidance on it.
“For we who have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on God) do enter that rest....” For he who has once entered (God’s) rest also has ceased from (The weariness and pain) of human labours just as God rested from those labours peculiarly His own” Hebrews 4.3,10. Amplified Bible.
God’s rest has specific works that are not borne out of your will or desire but His. I recall a matter that was of much offence to me and I had decided to take certain steps to rectify the matter. But I decided to put bring it before God. His counsel on the matter? HIS REST- was to do nothing. It seems foolish especially in the light of the circumstances but I obeyed. Today, the result is amazing. He took charge and made an effortless resolution of the matter. In addition, He gave me an overview of the big picture that helped me relate in a more compassionate way to the person.
GOD’S REST is truly astounding. So when dealing with challenging issues that come your way. Take time to ponder on this truth – If the earth is rich to throw up weeds with ease, I being more valuable shall have its experience at work in my life. You are truly more unique than a mere weed. The earth yields her increase because God created it in goodness and it is still good. Therefore it is the experiences of its increase that we must align ourselves with. That comes from our daily personal relationship with God.
The Earth will yield her increase if we are positioned spiritually to receive of it.
“And God, our own God shall bless us” Psalm 67.7
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