Hard Soil and Hardheartedness
Justin Jones / Executive Pastor of Spiritual Formation and Strategic Development
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| Photo by Mike Erskine on Unsplash |
In talking with our Spiritual Formation team the other day, we recounted all the amazing things God has done over the past couple of months: the ReAwakening Hope Conference, “Chase the Lion” small groups, new coalitions building within the region, Upward Ball Hockey, Easter Jam, people getting baptized, Good Friday/Easter, new worship music, a podcast developing, in-roads for our GriefShare program, Colson Fellows, people healed through TPM and getting training, the Hymn Sing, and so many other things. It’s been amazing and it’s been a lot to handle at times as well, for our staff, lay leaders, and volunteers alike.
As I took some vacation after Easter (as is my tradition), I was out in my gardens a lot getting things ready for the season. As I was out there, the illustration of Scriptural truths was all around. I couldn’t help but think about the picture of hard soil and hardheartedness. You see, it’s easy to go through seasons of highs or seasons of lows and find you come out the other side with a hard heart. And here is some of what I believe God was speaking to me about our hearts.
First, why does hard ground happen? It can happen because of compaction where the ground is stepped on or crushed. It can come from soil being bare. Soil is meant to be covered and when it’s not it can dry out and lose life. Also, a lack of water can cause hard ground. Finally, rocks and clay soil can cause soil to be hard.
This reminds me so much of what can happen to our hearts. Our hearts can become compacted by being run over by events, time, schedules, and difficulties in life. We can have a parched heart that has lacked time with God and needs His grace. We can have bare hearts, pulled in different directions or pulled apart by life experiences and pain.
So, what do we do for hard soil? We can use a broadfork or something like that to loosen up the soil. This is more destructive to the life in the soil but is necessary sometimes. We can use mulch, which is slower but is a wonderful way to cover over soil and produce life in the soil. You can sow cover crops which are plants that can loosen up soil and put nutrients back in. Or you can just build a raised bed.
What does this look like for our hard hearts? Sometimes, we need God to come in and use a broadfork on our hearts. It can be painful, but usually results in moments of deep surrender. It is when we’ve come to the end of our rope and know He is our only hope. Other times, it is the slow mulching of spiritual disciplines like reading His word, praying, solitude, silence, worship, etc. Day in and day out this can loosen up a hard heart as we position ourselves to be open to the “rain” of God’s grace. Finally, sowing seeds of ordered relationships can be so helpful. These healthy relationship with family, friends, and accountability partners can cover us with love and care that helps to loosen our hard hearts.
I know I need and want God to continue to loosen up my heart to be sensitive to Him and His leading in my life. How is your heart today? Is your heart feeling like hard soil? Consider today how God may want to loosen your heart for your good and His glory!
As I took some vacation after Easter (as is my tradition), I was out in my gardens a lot getting things ready for the season. As I was out there, the illustration of Scriptural truths was all around. I couldn’t help but think about the picture of hard soil and hardheartedness. You see, it’s easy to go through seasons of highs or seasons of lows and find you come out the other side with a hard heart. And here is some of what I believe God was speaking to me about our hearts.
First, why does hard ground happen? It can happen because of compaction where the ground is stepped on or crushed. It can come from soil being bare. Soil is meant to be covered and when it’s not it can dry out and lose life. Also, a lack of water can cause hard ground. Finally, rocks and clay soil can cause soil to be hard.
This reminds me so much of what can happen to our hearts. Our hearts can become compacted by being run over by events, time, schedules, and difficulties in life. We can have a parched heart that has lacked time with God and needs His grace. We can have bare hearts, pulled in different directions or pulled apart by life experiences and pain.
So, what do we do for hard soil? We can use a broadfork or something like that to loosen up the soil. This is more destructive to the life in the soil but is necessary sometimes. We can use mulch, which is slower but is a wonderful way to cover over soil and produce life in the soil. You can sow cover crops which are plants that can loosen up soil and put nutrients back in. Or you can just build a raised bed.
What does this look like for our hard hearts? Sometimes, we need God to come in and use a broadfork on our hearts. It can be painful, but usually results in moments of deep surrender. It is when we’ve come to the end of our rope and know He is our only hope. Other times, it is the slow mulching of spiritual disciplines like reading His word, praying, solitude, silence, worship, etc. Day in and day out this can loosen up a hard heart as we position ourselves to be open to the “rain” of God’s grace. Finally, sowing seeds of ordered relationships can be so helpful. These healthy relationship with family, friends, and accountability partners can cover us with love and care that helps to loosen our hard hearts.
I know I need and want God to continue to loosen up my heart to be sensitive to Him and His leading in my life. How is your heart today? Is your heart feeling like hard soil? Consider today how God may want to loosen your heart for your good and His glory!