WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN LIFE GETS ROCKY?
When life gets hard do you feel like giving up?
That question brings us to the second type of soil Jesus talks about in the Parable of the Sower: the stony ground.
STONY GROUND: WHERE ROOTS WITHER
Last week I talked about the hardened heart and compared it to the seed scattered by the wayside. On this path, feet continually tromp on the road and compress the dirt so the seed can’t penetrate. See Is the Enemy Devouring Your Seed? We may listen to what God has to say, but it doesn’t sink in. The pressures of life harden our hearts.
But what about the stony ground? Only a thin layer of topsoil covers rocky terrain. There isn’t enough earth to provide good root development. Without a proper root structure to absorb water and nutrients, the plant dies.
The seed that fell on rocky ground are the people who gladly hear the message and accept it at once. But they don’t have deep roots, and they don’t last very long. As soon as life gets hard or the message gets them in trouble, they give up. Matthew 13:20-21 CEV
Haven’t we all felt like throwing in the towel?
Maybe you’ve experienced a troubled marriage, have difficult children, or suffer with health issues. Perhaps your boss is demanding, or you lost your job. And then there’s Covid. Did it change the trajectory of your life?
Experiencing disappointment sets off an array of emotions such as:
Blame: I wasn’t treated fairly, or it wasn’t my fault.
Guilt:I made a mistake. I can’t do anything right.
Betrayal: People I counted on have crushed my ability to trust.
Despair: I’ve given up on life.
If that isn’t enough, we may also suffer for following Christ. Persecution knocks on many believers’ doors. In America we haven’t experienced the oppression that Christians face in other nations, but it’s still here. Maybe you were ridiculed by friends or family. Perhaps you were discriminated against. Or maybe another Christian criticized your denomination or beliefs.
We can draw conclusions like God doesn’t love me, God is punishing me, or I don’t deserve to have anything good. We might even admit we are angry with God.
Experiencing trouble is universal, but how we react to it determines our outcome. A person who is not rooted has no perspective for the possibilities in the days ahead. They have no vision for the long haul. Only those who believe that God has ordained a bright future for them will tolerate the trials. Jesus was able to envision the joy set before Him in order to endure the cross. If He can, we can too. [Hebrews 12:2]
ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE
Then Christ will live in you through faith. I also pray that love may be the ground into which you sink your roots and on which you have your foundation. This way, with all of God’s people you will be able to understand how wide, long, high, and deep his love is. Ephesians 3:17-18 GW
Not only could Jesus see the joy set before Him, He was rooted and grounded in love. Love motivated Him, and He was the embodiment on earth of the Father’s love for us. God is love. [1 John 4:8] Is it any wonder the apostle Paul prayed for all of us to be rooted in this love? When we know how much God cherishes us, we can endure hardships.
So how do we get rooted?
- Believe the promises God has ordained.
- Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 ESV
- Meditate on God’s love. Envision yourself wrapped in the Lord’s loving arms. Allow yourself to feel His love and acceptance just the way you are. His love is not conditional on your performance. Think about the magnitude of His love in His sacrifice on the cross.
ENCOURAGEMENT FROM SOMEONE WHO NEVER QUIT: ROCKY BALBOA
As I wrote about the “rocky” soil, I couldn’t help but think of Sylvester Stallone’s famous character Rocky. Talk about fighting to the end!
Here are some of Rocky’s quotes:
“Going one more round when you don’t think you can. That’s what makes all the difference in your life.”
“Every champion was once a contender who refused to give up.”
“Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain’t you. You’re better than that!”
Rocky Balboa didn’t win his fight, but he did win the hearts of the people. Rocky was the top grossing film of 1976 and won three academy awards, including best picture.
So, what do you do when life gets rocky? Persevere. Remember God loves you and strengthens you.
So don’t throw in the towel.