City Life Starter

Written by Aisha Darwesh

The Word

⁵ Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. ⁶ But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died.

Matthew 13:5-6 (NLT)

²⁰ The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. ²¹ But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.

Matthew 13:20-21 (NLT)

Aisha’s Analysis

The scriptures above describe a classic case of people who hear God’s Word and accept it, but then begin to put their trust in other things. When the going gets tough, instead of growing downward and establishing a deep root system, they let go of the Word and get uprooted.

Jesus said this type of ground was full of rocks (Matthew 13:5 NLT). This gives us a clue as to why the plant wasn’t able to put down roots—the ground was full of rocks. In order to see a harvest, we must get rid of all the rocks in our lives. What are rocks? Rocks can be shaped like seeds and blend right in with the ground, but they don’t produce a thing. Rocks have no life or power in them to produce a harvest.

To get rid of the rocks and keep our hearts in a softened state, we must discard everything in our minds and hearts that contradict the Word of God. It’s easy to hear God’s Word and welcome, accept and receive it with joy. Immediately a plant springs up; maybe you don’t see any fruit yet, but there’s a ray of hope, some new form of life inside you. 

But then we encounter all kinds of contradictory data in our day-to-day lives that makes God’s Word seem far-fetched. Those are rocks and should be immediately discarded. You can discard them by standing on the Word. You don’t have to deny the facts; you just stand on the higher truth. 

When you do that, you are creating an environment for the Word to grow. You are keeping the ground soft by discarding rocks and laying down roots by choosing to believe God despite outward circumstances. Continuing to stand on the Word when there’s nothing in the natural to indicate the Word stands a chance requires love and trust in the Author of our faith.

This type of soil requires a return to innocence. For roots to grow downward, the soil must be soft and airy, not hard and stony. Roots are the most tender part of a plant, and the most vital. If the roots are cut off, it doesn’t matter how beautiful or hardy the plant is; sooner or later, it will die without a well-integrated root system.

“So what does innocence have to do with that?” you might ask. Believing God’s Word in the midst of trying circumstances requires simple trust in a loving Father. We must become like children—trusting, impressionable, and obedient to whatever God says.

Jesus goes so far as to make these statements concerning the matter:

³ And said, Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all].

⁴ Whoever will humble himself therefore and become like this little child [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving] is greatest in the kingdom of heaven

Matthew 18:3-4 (AMP)

Children are uniquely resilient. They can bounce back quickly from adversity and adapt to all kinds of situations. Why? For one, they don’t tend to have any preconceived notions or their own opinions. They accept what you tell them as truth. They don’t need to know why or do their own research and analysis; they just accept it. That’s what we need to be like with God. We should read His Word with fresh eyes and accept it as a child would.

Additionally, children have an unwavering devotion to their caretakers. No matter what comes their way, they are totally at ease so long as they know their mother and father are right there with them. They have a level of commitment and trust that supersedes every circumstance.

Going back to the earlier mentioned scenario, the people heard the Word and immediately received, accepted, and welcomed it with joy, but they had no real root in themselves. These people embrace God to the extent He can bless them. They want Him for what He does instead of for who He is. We can’t enjoy the promises of God without a relationship with Him.

Roots signify a connection is made. Further, roots exist beneath the outward circumstances. Our relationship with God should go way deeper than what’s going on with our lives. It should be protected within and remain untouchable. Our connection with God is our safe haven, a place where we can draw strength and nourishment, a place that equips us to face any circumstance with boldness and confidence because we know who we are and we know Whose we are.

This kind of devotion doesn’t just pop out of nowhere. It’s birthed out of an intimate Father-child relationship that endures through every season. If you want your roots to grow down deep and sky-rocket in the spirit, you must have an encounter with God’s unfailing love:

¹⁷ May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,

¹⁸ That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it].

Ephesians 3:17-18 (AMP)

It takes the power of God to believe we are unconditionally loved by Him. We need the Holy Spirit to empower us to experience the Love of God. Knowing the Love of God firsthand takes all the edge off of any kind of suffering we’ll ever encounter on this side of Heaven.

Application

How can you eradicate the rocks in the soil of your heart? What lies have you believed that need to be discarded? These are things that are not aligned with God’s character and nature and that contradict His Word. 

When you actively lay those lies down and decide to stand on the truth of God’s Word, you are forming roots that will stabilize you when the conditions are harsh. Growing in Christ requires choosing to trust Him even when it doesn’t look good. Trust in Him with the innocence and wonder of a little child. 

Prayer

Father God, I thank You that Your Word is alive in my heart. You are speaking to me, and I want to listen. Quiet my soul, that I may drink deeply of Your Word and find rest in its simplicity and Truth. In Jesus’ name, amen.