Weeds Don’t Wait: A Garden Lesson on Spiritual Work

Monday morning rolled around slowly. We had gotten home around noon the day before, still smiling from Jacob and Natalia’s wedding. What a joyful weekend. But by Monday, I was content to do a whole lot of nothing. Just sitting on the couch, watching TV, when Rachel came in.

“Did you write anything this morning?” she asked.

I looked up and said, “Nope. Just sitting here.”

She followed up with, “So, what are your plans today?”

I said, “I was thinking about getting a couple of the garden beds ready to plant something.”

That was all it took to get me moving. I grabbed my boots and tools and headed to the garden. But when I got there, what I saw was not ready soil, it was a jungle of weeds.

Tall grass. Wild overgrowth. Not a clean row or visible plot in sight.

I took a picture of it, and honestly, I was embarrassed. Part of me didn’t want to show it. I thought, “What would people think?” But here’s the truth: pretending doesn’t fix it. If someone gets close enough to us…close enough to walk the garden with us…they’re going to see the weeds.

And that’s when the Lord started speaking.

Some weeds are obvious from a distance. Others don’t show up until someone gets close. But either way, weeds grow. Whether we plant them or not. Whether we feed them or not. Whether we mean to or not. All they need is a little space and a little time.

Weeds of bitterness. Of fear. Of pride. Of comparison. Weeds of distraction, or just plain neglect.

They don’t ask for permission. They thrive in silence. And once they’ve taken root, they grow quickly, often wrapping themselves around what we were actually trying to grow.

In contrast, good fruit takes work. A flourishing garden doesn't just happen. You have to prepare the soil. Pull what doesn’t belong. Water with care. Be patient with the process. Fruit needs help. Weeds don’t.

Galatians 6:7-8 reminds us, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

That verse reminds me I can't ignore what’s growing in my life and expect to reap something different. I can’t fill my schedule with noise and expect peace. I can’t leave my spirit dry and expect joy.

And I definitely can’t pretend the weeds aren’t there.

That garden bed didn’t get that way overnight. It happened through delay. Inattention. Good intentions left on pause. And life works the same way. If we’re not intentional about tending the soul, the overgrowth is inevitable.

But here’s the grace in it: God is not asking us to fix everything at once. He just invites us to start pulling. One weed at a time. With His help. With His strength.

That photo? I’m sharing it, because that was my garden Monday morning. And honestly, sometimes that’s my heart too. But if we’ll show up, God will meet us in the work.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for speaking through even the overgrown places in my life. Help me to stop pretending and start pulling. Give me the honesty to acknowledge what’s growing that shouldn’t be, and the courage to do something about it. Teach me to work the soil with You, one day at a time. In Jesus’ name, Amen.