by Desiree Bustamante
We are often blinded by the weeds surrounding us.
You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.
When spring finally arrives after a long winter, we all hope for flowers to appear again, but it seems that the first blooms around here are always dandelions. This is a weed no one wants in their yard because, after they are done blooming, they spread their multitude of seeds across the entire neighborhood. The battle to eradicate them lasts all through summer.
“The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7 New Living Translation
We have seasons where we focus on the many weeds in our lives, those things that annoy us and take our eyes off the beauty of our Lord and the blessings He gives us.
Some of these might be people who aren’t acting the way we want them to. Some are sins in our life that we hold on to to the point of discouragement and resignation. Some are those random things that happen to us that derail our dreams or change our life to something we no longer recognize.
These get in the way of seeing what God wants us to see. In this photo there are so many dandelions that we don’t really notice the green grass, or the abundant tree leaves. We become consumed with the seeds that are spreading and only see the future weeds that will appear.
But Jesus asks us to see things differently—through His eyes.
“How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”
Psalm 139: 17-18 New Living Translation
Jesus sees us as His beloved children. The world’s weeds are His to eliminate, not ours. Surrender them to Him. No, it’s not an easy task for us. Our weeds of sin get in the way. But our Lord and Savior has the power to give us a new focus on Him, not what consumes us. Trust Him to help you only see His love and plan for you.
Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado
It is hard to see beyond the seeds lately. Global warming, single use plastics, chemicals in our food and even the air as breath. Gah! Easy to forget who’s ultimately in charge.
My 2021 word for my spiritual life is “Surrender.” This was a great jolt of a reminder that I haven’t been focused on giving all things to Him. Wonderfully written!