She Who Gardens, Grows (Part 1)

For my last birthday, my son gave me a beautiful card (okay his dad purchased it but he assured me Josh selected it from the options he was given). The front was trimmed with a vibrant green (my favorite color by the way) and had coral flowers sprinkled as a backsplash. In the center was a circular cutout and cord of twill that rounded the card from top to bottom. On the circle was the statement “SHE WHO GARDENS, GROWS.” It was such a meaningful card to me as it spoke to a heart’s desire and work I knew the Lord wanted to do in me.

A girlfriend and I would dream out loud about the lives we wanted to have with our future husbands should God grant them. She loved entertaining and immaculate dining so wanted to enjoy dinner parties she’d host alongside her husband. She’d laugh as I’d share my yearning to be in the great outdoors building and growing a little garden with mine. I don’t have a bit of a green thumb, but a girl could dream, right. Well, I take that back. For several years I kept three plants alive and thriving. It may have had more to do with the plants than me, but nevertheless, victory!

As I thought about what sustained my plants, I did a little research to discover just what makes a garden grow. And I found that there is a foundation to every bountiful field. Article after article shared this similar sentiment: “if you feed the soil, the soil will feed the plant.” The soil is the foundation. I discovered that there were all types of soil and it was essential to have the right one for your crop. So essential that many caution poor preparation before planting can end your harvest before it even begins to grow.

I found out that loamy soil is most ideal for many types of gardening projects. Some of its characteristics are that it provides good drainage, retains moisture, is nutrient-dense, easily movable and shapeable, warms up quickly, and is slow to dry out (1). But here’s the part most of us aren’t going to be excited about. Loamy soil isn’t often just outside waiting to be planted in. One article said that it can take up to six years to create this soil just right. Six years! There goes that time word again.

But doing the work is what was going to make the soil sustainable and in return your garden sustainable too. I learned it was best to slowly transform your soil by using organic materials rather than chemical fertilizers and treatments. The latter would likely have quick results yet ones that would fizzle out just as soon as they came causing greater damage. I also discovered that some of the pests we would want to be exterminated or warded off were beneficial to the condition of the ground and the growth of your crops.

As I considered all this from a spiritual perspective, I likened the soil to our soul. Just like my girlfriend and I wanted the beautiful gardens of new husbands and each of our unique and exciting adventures with them, we first needed to be overturned and made new ourselves. Otherwise, as the agriculturalists cautioned, we’d destroy those relationships before they could even begin.

If you feed the soil, the soil will feed the plant. Likewise, if you feed your soul, your soul will flourish your life and relationships.

Before we could begin planting in the field of relationships with others, we needed to plant in our own. And before we could plant in our own, we needed to have the right soil – the right soul. Our soul, where the seat of our emotions, thoughts, and will rest, would first need the right modifications for blooming to occur. As I read about growing gardens, I discovered that a soil’s pH level was critical. To discover if your soil contained the right acidity for your crop, it would need to be tested. And once it was tested, measures could be taken to transform it into a workable environment.

If we were to test your soul, would we find a suitable environment for God to transform you? He desires that you'll first be a beautiful garden within yourself so in return, you’ll create more beautiful and sustainable gardens with others. What’s the condition of your heart and mind? I want to encourage you to stop, think, and write. When I was quiet and honest with myself, I found that both were utter messes. They were filled with decay and rottenness and needed the magic touch of a Gardener who knows what He’s doing.

Here are some questions to help you consider the pH level of your soul:

• Are your words, thoughts, and actions more consistently marked by the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – Galatians 5:22-23)?

• What works of the flesh are you battling and are they winning (sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like – Galatians 5:19-21)?

• How are your relationships doing (romantic, familial, friend, work)? What are some of the patterns in all these relationships? What do you notice about you that’s contributing to their condition?

• Are you teachable, accept correction, and apply wisdom when it’s given or are you easily offended and shut out perspectives that incite change?

• How’s your relationship with God? When was the last time you spent time with Him in prayer, His Word, and repentance?

I believe we’re only going to see beautiful gardens when we have beautiful souls from which they’ll spring. Our souls are a constant work in progress just like the soil. Yet, I believe they both can yield fruitful crops when they become fitting environments for regeneration. The last question I asked you is the foundation: your relationship with God and your repentance before Him. If you want to begin the work on your soul, then you must take it to the One who knows it best and knows best how to change it. You must come repentant and ready to release the toxins that have spoiled it whether it be a heart posture, a mindset, a habit, or a cherished relationship.

Make consistent time to spend with God in prayer, the Word, and repentance.

Apart from this intimate time in the presence of God, one of the ways I’ve uncovered my soul condition is reading about others who’ve uncovered theirs. It helps me to identify that this thing I thought I’ve dealt with and overcome is still there. And it gives me another reason to pour out and return to the feet of Jesus for help. One of those books that have assisted me in doing this work is “Forgiving What You Can’t Forget” by Lysa TerKeurst (listen, I love this woman and everything she writes!). I’ll share something she wrote as my final encouragement to you to take your soul to our Great Gardener too:

“The farmer knows what is good for the ground just like God knows what is good for the human heart. They both see such potential for new life, new fruit, and new, beautiful beginnings.” -Lysa TerKeurst

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