WEED CONTROL

by Linda Kirby/WGON

While in my garden after a long, wet spring, I noticed the weeds had taken over. A thought came to mind: the idea that weeds—those who live without Jesus in their daily lives—seem to thrive, while flowers—those who walk in faith—struggle. This is echoed in Scripture as well. Psalm 73 comes to mind, where the psalmist wrestles with why the wicked prosper:

“For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked... Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure.”

— Psalm 73:3, 13

But then the psalmist realizes that their apparent success is fleeting, and that God’s justice will pull them up by the roots—just like weeds in His garden. In our own gardens, weeds may grow fast and wild, but we must pull them out to save the beauty and life around them. Weeds choke out growth, spread quickly, and require no care—just like sin, which can take root easily when left unchecked.

How do you get rid of weeds in your garden? You uproot them and throw them away. You put down weed control to prevent them from returning. In the same way, weeds represent sin in our lives, and weed control is found in turning away from sin and communing with the Lord regularly. Reading His Word and applying it to our daily lives is our spiritual weed control.

Just as the psalmist was troubled by the prosperity of the wicked, we too must go to the throne of grace to regain our peace and joy. As he wrote:

“Then I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.”

— Psalm 73:17

Like weeds, the wicked have a tragic end. But God’s garden will remain beautiful—a place of peace. Pull the weeds of sin from your life, and commune with the Lord often throughout the day to apply His weed control. God’s garden is within you. He will keep it in peace and beauty—free of weeds—if you apply His brand of weed control: His Word.