Thorns, Thistles and Weeds
We read in Genesis that thorns and thistles were a result of sin entering the world. Genesis 3:18 reads, “It (the ground) will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of the ground.” The ground was made perfect by God but due to the sin of Adam and Eve, it was forever changed. Thorns, thistles, and weeds are reoccurring irritants. They make farming and gardening a challenge. You can pluck them out, dig them up or plow them under but they will always come back. Spray them with chemicals and they may die off for a time but eventually, they will rear their ugly heads again and again. The work and toil it requires to persevere as a gardener or farmer is relentless.
God blessed us with and provided for us fruits, vegetables, plants, shrubs, bushes, and trees of many kinds. They are good and beautiful. Imagine before Adam and Eve took a bite just how amazing the earth was, so pure and without a trace of those nuisances whose purpose is to harm, strangle, and kill what God made good. Vegetables, fruits, and grains are fuel from the earth for our bodies. They are made up of nutrients and are sustenance to sustain our lives. When farmers and gardeners work the ground, it takes effort and sweat. They know that removing these elements of the earth that seek to destroy the parts that are good, is part of their discipline. These invaders must be eliminated to reap the rewards of the bounty that come from the earth God created to feed our bodies and sustain our lives. Their persistence is rewarded as they persevere in the work that brings great satisfaction.
We as people created in the image of God were made good. Our earthly bodies are flesh and blood, and they are not perfected until we are face to face with Jesus upon our death or His return. I liken our bodies to a garden. A beautiful, colorful, and abundant garden. God made us perfect in every way. Psalm 139:13-14, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” We are all made uniquely by God and for His purpose. Equipped with talents and abilities that bring joy to others and are used by God for the glory and growth of His Kingdom. Our bodies are not perfect. They do need tending just as a garden or field needs tending. We must take care of the gift God has given us. If we eat too much and do not exercise, we gain weight, and our heart and lungs may fail us. If we don’t eat enough, out bodies can waste away because they are starving and need food for nourishment. If we eat too much sugar, drink alcohol excessively or smoke, the results of these poor habits will negatively affect our health and disease may take root. There are also “weeds” that entangle us like anxiety, depression, people-pleasing, jealousy, anger, control issues, need for approval, and constant perseverating over our body image. There are sometimes “thorns” that appear like giants. It may be a person who intimates us and makes us cower in fear. Think on it. What kind of metaphorical thorn, thistle or weed do you wrestle with?
As I write this, I am reminded of my thorn and some of the fleshly, temporary, feel-good decisions that I’ve made throughout my lifetime because of allowing my weakness to rule me. I can’t change my past, which God has removed as far as the East is from the West (Psalm 103:12), but God can help me write my story from here forward. Our lives are often like a rollercoaster. Up and down, we go. We make good choices as we move upward click, click, click advancing with wisdom and courage up the hill but inevitably, we come rumbling down the hill as we make all kinds of foolish choices jerking back and forth through the twists and turns along the way. God convicts His children when we are living out of the flesh, and He commands us to walk in the Spirit and gratify the things of the Spirit. Galatians 5:16 says, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” When we walk in the flesh, we choose to indulge in how we feel and though we may feel good for a moment, it leaves us feeling empty and ashamed. Our feelings can lead us astray when they are not grounded in the Word and our decisions are based on what we think and feel. When we examine our thoughts and see what God’s Word says about them, we will glean truth from the Scriptures, and it will help us make wise decisions that will give us hope and teach us how to live rightly. When we walk in the Sprit, God leads and guides us helping us to think and pray through things as we make decisions, so they are honorable and right, pleasing to God. We need God to bring consistency and stability into our lives, so we are not living the constant up and down twisting turning uncontrolled rollercoaster life. Consistency, stability and peace result from a life lived fully surrendered to God walking with the Spirit.
Another perspective to consider is that thorns can be sent by God as messengers. The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” We do not know what Paul’s thorn is, but it is obvious it troubled him greatly. God choose not to remove it. Sure, God can deliver us from sickness, temptation, trial, or struggle in an instant if He so desires but God doesn’t always work that way. Our thorn keeps up close to God and reliant on Him. We need the strength of God to overcome every moment that relentless weakness of ours manifests and attempts to take us down. We are incapable to do so on our own.
Dear friends, we do not have the ability to overcome our annoying, thorny struggles alone. Those irritating thistles that we consider ugly and are ashamed of are meant for a purpose. They are messengers God uses to mature and strengthen our faith. Stop seeing them as negative and see them as opportunities to rely on God. I know this may sounds strange to you, but I am beginning to see mine in a different light. My eyes are taking on a new lens and I am starting to see my thorns and thistles and those bothersome weeds as red flag opportunities to stop and invite God into the moments I’m drawn into temptation. Satan seeks to take us believers down and He uses crafty ways to deceive us. The more we rely on God and study His Word, the more keenly aware we become of the enemy’s tactics. The bait is oftentimes clothed in an enticing wardrobe so be on guard! 2 Corinthians 11:14 says, “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”
God, help us to realize we cannot change or fix ourselves apart from You. Our efforts to overcome will only prove to be worthless. We need and desire your power to make right choices, pleasing to You. Help us be more aware of our need for you and in those moments when we can either choose flesh or Spirit. Help us to choose to walk in the Spirit of God and to not satisfy the desires of the flesh. Those fleshy desires taunt us to indulge in them and they can be convincing in moments when we are vulnerable. Help us remember, “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” Galatians 5:17.
I hope you begin today to see yourself how God sees you. A child of God created in His image and loved by Him in a way that you can’t even begin to imagine. See the need to regularly tend to your garden and see your thorns, thistles, and weeds as teachers. You will learn and grow. You will become stronger. Your faith will increase. In Christ alone you can overcome. You will fail. I will fail. I guarantee you that. But we do not have to return to life’s starting blocks when we do. We are forgiven. Christ died for us. His blood was shed to cover our sins past, present and future. Heed to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, admit and confess when you miss the mark. Grab hold of the loving and compassionate hand of God that reaches out to you and get back up! He will help you dust the dirt and grime off and will be right there with you when you begin again. Breathe. Just take one step at a time with God who goes before you, walks beside you, and stands as your rear guard.
Tend to your garden, friends. God will help you daily to overcome and cultivate the soil of your soul which from it will spring forth beautiful new growth!” Behold, I am making all things new! (Rev. 21:5)
