Weeds Among the Wheat

Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’” Matthew 13:24-30 

Good times and full fields come with challenges and weeds. Things happen to good people that they neither deserve nor asked for by their behavior or their words. We can lose heart, and feel defeated watching healthy ministries be undermined by troublesome folks. I have to remember in each of these moments that God is truly in charge and that the troubles will cease and we are cared for throughout.

Jesus used stories to illustrate the truth of God in human experience. The heart of God is caring for us in the midst of troubles, and we are being strengthened despite the weeds and the detractors. God is in the midst of our growing, caring for our every need and the final out come.

Today I ask God to help me remember, when overwhelmed that the outcome is set. May we all remember, despite our worst fears and our worst enemies, God is always for justice and healing, for restoration and completion. God indeed will deal with the weeds in our lives.