When times are difficult and without hope, it can be a challenge to trust in the Lord. Yet, God is like a loving gardener. The gardener will protect the plants of the garden from harm. Like loyal plants, we can turn to the Lord for protection and the defeat of those who pull us down.
The Gardener
A woman had a small garden in the back of her house with many growing tomato plants. The tomato plants were excited to be nearly in bloom and ready to bear fruit for their gardener.
Then one day, many different weeds crept over all sides of the walls of the garden into the soil near the tomato plants. The woman had not tended the garden for a few days now and the weeds continued to creep closer and closer to the tomato plants.
The plants cried out to the gardener to return, but the weeds only laughed.
“How ridiculous! She cannot hear you, silly plants,” said the weeds. ” There is no help for you. She has abandoned you and allowed us to take over this garden for ourselves.”
The tomato plants kept their trust in the gardener even in this moment of despair. Whether she heard their cries or not, they couldn’t know for sure. But the woman came running to the rescue of the plants. She surrounded each one with a fence to shield off the weeds. She cut down the weeds’ stalks and pulled out the roots and cast them all in the fire to be burned.”
The gardener had saved them and protected them from their many enemies.
The plants sang together a song of joy and thanksgiving for the protection of the gardener.
“But you, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.”
Psalm 3:3
Reflection Questions
- What did the tomato plants do when they feared the weeds?
- How can you turn to God when times are difficult?
- How does god protect you from harm?
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