Wayside Soil

Jesus starts the Parable of the Sower by asking listeners to think about a farmer throwing good seed out on the ground. As the farmer does so, some of the seed falls on coarse, dry surface and is eaten by birds. When Jesus explained the parable, He said that the seed is representative of "news of the kingdom," and the birds are representative of Satan plucking the good news "right out of [a] person's heart." In other words, Jesus was detailing what happens when we hear the Word but we do not allow it to move us; we do not "take [the Word] in" and allow it to break through, permeate and puncture us.

We should not ever be able to hear the Word and not feel it moving in, around and through us as it reads us, breathes in us, and transforms us. What I notice immediately when I think about the scenario Jesus describes is how the enemy snatches away a gift that would bring life to its receiver by invading the intended receiver's heart. Satan gained access to the person's heart, and that access left the person's heart hardened so that that good seed would not be able to do its good work in the person.

How is your heart? Is your heart hardened, or are you able to see evidence of a good harvest? Your personal harvest and communal output of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are a direct reflection of how connected you are to the Lord, and your connection to the Lord is a direct reflection of your understanding and submission to His Word.

Satan is a thief. The Evil One seeks to steal your harvest (e.g., love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control). Guard your heart. Make sure you have on the breastplate of righteousness. There may be moments when you feel that all hope is lost, but remember that the Lord is faithful. Trust the Lord with your situation, your pain, your feelings ... and the Lord will give you understanding, guidance, restoration and life.

Stony Soil

Jesus continues the parable by further describing where the good seed (i.e., the Word) is shared. As the farmer continued scattering the seed about, some of it falls on stony soil. This second type of soil discussed is not as barren as wayside soil. I think of wayside soil as concrete with no holes; when seed hits that type of soil, "it just remains on the surface." Stony soil is not fully hard though. The gravel or hard parts of the soil allow water to move through it some. That in mind, Jesus tells listeners that growth occurs quickly in stony soil but because no roots develop in it, the harvest is short-lived. Jesus said the heat withers the harvest "just as quickly" as it grows.

When Jesus explained the parable, He said the stony soil is representative of "the person who hears [the Word] and instantly responds with enthusiasm," but because the person lacks character, "when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it." The person described here represents the beginning permeation of the Word - how the Word encourages us and how we feel refreshed, especially when the environment is conducive for that: the music is right, the focus is set, the sound is faith-filled. When that good Word does not take root in us though, we will not be able to commit to walking in love and truth outside of that type of environment, especially when faced with discomforts.

Satan is a killer and destroyer. If Satan can't directly touch your heart, then Satan will affect your environment and hope you will be like the fig tree: have leaves but no fruit. In other words, Satan hopes that the good news can be overcome by frustrations. Make sure you wear the belt of truth and keep on the shoes of peace. Meditate on the Word so that even when you face adversity, you will be planted and yield good fruit.

Have faith. Know that the Lord is stronger than the Adversary and any weapon formed against you. Do not get weary. Stay rooted in your tribulation, knowing God will repurpose all the discomfort and pain.

Thorny Soil

As the parable progresses, Jesus says the farmer continued spreading the seed, and some of it fell on thorny soil. This soil had weeds. Jesus said that as growth happened, the harvest "was strangled by the weeds."

Jesus came so that we would have life, and Satan came to wreak havoc. When Satan cannot prevent the good news from taking root in our hearts nor create dismay that restrains our active growth in Christ, Satan will plant weeds among the harvest in hopes that we will become distracted.

When Jesus explained what happened to the seed, He said the "weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun" led to strangulation of "what was heard," leading to barrenness. In other words, Jesus shared that anxiety, misinformation, and covetousness killed all the goodness that would have been produced.

Taking our eyes off of the Lord and letting our hearts pursue other people or things more than the Lord leave us susceptible to the enemy's lies and spiritual attacks. Just as heat causes growth in stony soil to wither, weeds in thorny soil lead to parasitic hosts that kill growth. Wear the helmet of salvation and carry the sword of the Spirit. Let the Lord continually renew your mind and cleanse your heart. Stay alert, and be rooted and trust in the Lord.

Soil Types and Conditions of Your Heart and Spirit

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus did not discuss soil types apart from heart (i.e., emotional) conditions nor fruit (i.e., spiritual) conditions. In her book, Dr. Phillips emphasizes that when our hearts are not ready, we will not be good ground for the good news. To put it plainly, the soil types that Jesus discussed are reflective of heart (i.e., emotional) conditions. Even though the seed that the Farmer (i.e., the Lord) scatters on our hearts is as good as it gets, seed (i.e., beliefs/words) will not take root in us, steadfastly grow, and produce advantageous fruit (i.e., spiritual outputs) if we do not develop emotional wellness. Doing that does not mean that we need to suppress our emotions. Instead, Dr. Phillips asserts our need to acknowledge, experience, and positively heal and manage emotions.

Heart Tests

So, how exactly should you be examining your heart?

First, you need to acknowledge what you are feeling. It is important to understand what you are feeling and how your body responds to those feelings. Be intentional about embracing your feelings. Just because certain feelings may be unpleasant, it does not mean that you need to rush past them. Instead, be committed to developing and using your emotional and body awareness to detect irregular heart patterns so you can then be intentional about healing from events and traumas that do not promote healthy heart postures.

As you are gaining awareness, you need to take intentional actions to promote healthy feeling-faith relationships. Whether stagnation or backsliding is happening emotionally or spiritually, the result is the same: there will be barren or fruitless areas. Prioritize your faith through effective methods: pray, praise, worship, fast, give, study the Word, and attend church. These methods help you put on the armor of God. Likewise, prioritize your emotional wellness: practice gratitude, spend time with your loved ones, rest, journal, exercise, create, and/or go to therapy. Again, your spiritual and emotional wellness are codependent. Do not let yourself get weary.

While experiencing different heart conditions, gaining awareness to best protect and manage your heart, and taking strategic faith-aligned steps, remember to rest in the presence of the Lord. As beneficial as regular checkups with healthcare professionals and positive connections with our loved ones are, there are many parts of us that only a touch from the Lord can heal. Having the right heart posture takes constant work, and that constant work requires sound spiritual and mental health. It will not always feel good, and positive transformations will take time. It is okay not to be okay, but it is not okay to make those periods your resting place. Let the Lord cleanse your heart, renew your mind, and save your soul. I hope that you are fruitful, that you multiply, and that you unwaveringly allow the Lord to "direct your [heart] into God's love and Christ's perseverance" (2 Thessalonians 3:5 NIV). I pray that your heart is made good by the Word of the Lord and that you "[produce] a harvest beyond [your] wildest dreams."