Pulling Weeds

Have you ever looked at your yard one day and realized the weeds have taken over? They creep in slowly, quietly, and before you know it, they’re everywhere! Funny how life can feel like that too, isn’t it? Little habits, thoughts, and distractions can slowly take root, and before long, we’re overwhelmed.

Today, we’re talking about pulling weeds — not just in the garden but in our hearts. Those little things sneak in and choke out the good God wants to grow in us.

Hebrews 12:1 (NLT) — “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

Let’s dive into how we can tend to the soil of our hearts and let God do some weeding!

Recognizing the Weeds

You know, the thing about weeds is they don’t need permission to grow. They just show up. The same is true with negative thoughts, bad habits, and little compromises in life. They sneak in quietly and can take over if we’re not careful. Let’s start by recognizing the weeds in our lives so we can pull them out.

Weeds are the little things we let slide — bitterness, gossip, distractions, or even busyness — and left unchecked, they can choke out joy, peace, and purpose.

Let’s ask ourselves this question: What’s one habit or thought pattern that’s been creeping in lately?

Are there “weeds” in your life that need attention before they grow out of control?

Ignoring the Weeds Gives Them Permission to Grow

Have you ever looked at your flower bed one day and thought, “Oh, I should pull those weeds,” but you put it off? Then, when you come outside the next day, it looks like the weeds have tripled. Just like in a garden, the longer we leave the things we need to hand over to God, the harder they are to pull out and work through.

We can start a daily check-in with God, asking Him to show us what needs to be pulled out of our hearts. I know for me, sometimes I can feel a certain way and not really understand why, so I’m sure a daily check-in will do me some good.

What’s one area where you’ve felt weighed down lately?

God Helps Us Pull the Weeds

God doesn’t just point out the weeds — He helps us pull them.

Hebrews 12:1 reminds us to “strip off every weight and run the race with endurance.”

Let’s spend some time with God, asking Him to reveal the weeds we have and to give us the wisdom, strength, and understanding to pull them and move forward with a new way of life. We can ask God to help us clear things out, but we also need to understand how to move forward.

Uprooting the Weeds

Identifying the weeds is just the first step — now comes the hard part: pulling them out. And let me tell you, it’s not always easy! Sometimes those roots run deep. But with God’s help, we can get our hands dirty and start clearing out the things that don’t belong.

Weeding is ongoing — it’s not a one-and-done thing. I mean, we can go out to our gardens and flower beds and pull weeds every day. It takes intentionality and perseverance.

Set aside quiet time with God to reflect on what needs to go and ask Him for strength to uproot it.

What’s one “weed” you’re ready to pull today?

Letting Go of Worry

I remember a time when worry took over my thoughts. It felt like every day I was just trying to keep my head above water. One morning, I realized that I’d been letting fear take root, and it was choking out my trust in God. I had to make a conscious decision to surrender my worries and ask God to replace them with His peace. Those were hard days, and it took a conscious effort to ensure my worries didn’t take over. It wasn’t instant, but a day-by-day process. Slowly, those weeds started to clear out.

We’re looking for progress, not perfection. We can become discouraged if we set unrealistic expectations on ourselves. Take small steps every day to help keep things cleared out and your thoughts on the Lord.

What’s one step you can take today to pull a weed from your life?

Planting Truth in the Empty Spaces

Once you pull a weed, don’t leave the soil empty — plant truth in its place.

We all do spring cleaning because there’s too much clutter, right? But right after that, we don’t go out and buy things to replace everything we removed, do we? We need to be aware of what we’re replacing in our lives. Spiritually, when we clean house, we need to replace what was removed with the truth of God.

Fill your mind with Scripture and surround yourself with encouragement.

Memorize a Bible verse that speaks truth into the area where you’re pulling weeds.

What truth can you plant in your heart today?

Cultivating a Healthy Heart

Pulling weeds is important, but if you don’t tend the garden regularly, those weeds will creep back in. The key is to cultivate a healthy environment where God’s love and truth can flourish.

It’s like starting a garden and putting down the proper weed barrier so that we can maintain our gardens easier. And just like watering plants, we need daily time with God to stay spiritually healthy.

Little acts of obedience go a long way in keeping the weeds out. My grandmother used to say, “Start out how you can hold out.” Now, she used this about marriage, but I think it applies to our walk with the Lord. When we start grounded, we’ll be able to hold strong and keep moving forward when things come up.

What’s one daily habit you can start to keep your heart healthy?

God’s Restoration Work

My grandmother had an amazing work ethic, especially when it came to her flower beds. She would spend hours out on her hands and knees pulling weeds and making sure the soil was good. She wanted to make sure her bushes and flowers thrived. The same is true of God — He is in the business of restoration, and He never gives up on His garden. He won’t give up on you. He is always working to make you who you ought to be in order to do the work He’s called you to do.

What’s one area where you need God’s restoration today?

Celebrating the Growth

Every weed you pull makes room for something beautiful to grow. So, celebrate the progress — big and small.

We often remember the big moments because they usually make the biggest impact, but if we took time to write down every moment of growth, no matter the size, we’d have a great reminder of God’s faithfulness.

Take moments to notice the goodness of God and give Him praise for His leading in your life.

What new growth do you want to see in your life?

Embrace the Process

Pulling weeds isn’t glamorous, but it’s necessary if we want to make room for what really matters. Hebrews 12:1 reminds us to throw off everything that holds us back and run the race God has set before us.

Today let’s commit to tending the gardens of our hearts — pulling weeds, planting truth, and celebrating the new growth that comes when we let God work in us.