Deeply Rooted Weeds

One of my favorite times of year is early fall, when the hot, humid Texas nights finally cool into the 60s and that crispness lingers through the morning. It’s the perfect time to head outside and tackle the flower beds.

But sometimes the weeds are just too much. Their root systems dig so deep that pulling them up only solves the problem for a day or two. Before long, they sprout again, stronger than ever. I’ll admit, there are times I’ve been tempted to give up on certain patches. That’s when I call my husband, and he applies a weed killer just to that one area to help me get it under control.

Sin in our lives — or in the life of someone we love — can be the same way. Sometimes it’s deeply rooted. We try to encourage, guide, and pray, but it keeps sprouting back. It’s easy to throw up our hands in frustration and say, “I give up.”

But God doesn’t give up.

Galatians 6:9 reminds us: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Instead of walking away, maybe it means we need to try another method. Sometimes encouragement looks like prayer. Sometimes it looks like patience. Sometimes it looks like stepping aside and letting God’s Spirit do the deeper work that we cannot.

Just as my husband’s help made the weeds manageable, God’s power is what reaches the roots we never could. Our role is to love, to pray, and to keep showing up.

So don’t give up on the “weedy” places in people’s lives. Where we see impossible roots, God sees potential for growth.