Have you ever been in a place of waiting long enough that hearing someone tell you not to give up just makes you shut off unconsciously? You can’t wait for the conversation or sermon on that topic to come to an end because it tears open that place of pain where you have toiled all night and caught nothing. It stirs up questions you have no answers too, thoughts you do not want to process and pain you are working hard to bury.
But then there is a voice on the inside that bids you to listen, that is my Word to you the voice says. Oh Lord, are you for real, after all this time? can you just show up and do what you want to do instead of asking me not to give up? I think that would be a better approach. I am here to do my mighty works, to bring the answers you have been waiting for, but you let your pain, shame, guilt, and fear get in the way and you are gradually shutting the door on me, He says. Give me a chance to bring healing, let me into your heart again. God says this is my word, it is a seed, if you plant it in your heart, it would yield the healing and fruits you desire
And now you are torn between a few options.
- Do not receive the seed
- Receive the seed
- Receive and plant the seed
In order for a seed to be planted the soil must be broken up, and then the seed is buried inside the soil. For you, the soil of your heart is covered in pain, shame, guilt and fear. Receiving and planting that seed would mean breaking past the shame, pain, fear and guilt, which we all know is a hurtful process.
Here you are thinking of how best to respond. As a Christian not receiving the word of God would be really bad, so you receive the word. You say amen in church. You can even share that word with others. However; you never get to plant (truly believe) that word because of the pain and work associated with digging deep into your heart and planting the word. So, you opt for what is easy, you receive the seed but cannot go through the stress of digging through your heart and planting the seed.
You hold the seed in your hand, even though you know that a seed would never grow into a tree and produce fruits except it is planted. You hold it in your hand, you share with others but you never plant it, you never get to experience the full power in the seed, you never get to enjoy the fruits hidden in that seed.
I do not know what your struggle or pain is, but God does. I don’t know how long you have had to deal with it, but God does. I do not know what would bring complete healing and restoration to that place but God does, and most times He would bring healing and restoration through His word. Today I encourage you to not just receive that word, the word that opens that hurt when spoken, yes you know what I’m talking about, the word you do not want to hear even though you know it is the truth. I encourage to press pass the pain and plant that word – believe again, trust Him again. Give Him the opportunity to heal and restore your hurt through His word.
We can never be transformed by just knowing God’s word. We can go to church all our lives and still remain the same, never experience transformation in places of our hurts and struggles because we never dared to truly believe (plant) His word. The truth may stand contrary to what you see, feel or have experienced, but I urge you today, believe! Plant that word!
