我在後院的花盆裡埋下幾顆種子後，就等著它們發芽。有人說，種子會在十到十四天內發芽。於是，我常常一邊澆水，一邊查看發芽了沒。不久，我看見幾片綠色嫩葉破土而出，高興極了。但這興奮之情很快便幻滅了，因為我丈夫告訴我，那些冒出頭的全是雜草。他還催促我，要儘快將雜草拔除，免得讓我想要種的植物受到擠壓，無法生長。

耶穌也告訴我們，對付那些會阻礙我們靈命成長的入侵者，至關重要。耶穌說了一個比喻，有一個撒種的出去撒種，「有落在荊棘裡的……把它擠住了」（馬太福音13章7節）。植物會被荊棘或雜草擠住，以致停止生長（22節）。同樣地，你我的靈命也會因憂慮而無法成長。讀經禱告是幫助我們信心增長的絕佳方式，但我發現，我需要小心防備那如同荊棘般的憂慮。這些憂慮會「擠住」上帝那早已種在我心中的美善真理，使我總是擔心害怕有什麼壞事會發生。

聖經記載聖靈所結的果子包括仁愛、喜樂與和平（加拉太書5章22節）。我們要結出這樣的果子，就需要藉著上帝的能力，拔除所有懷疑或憂慮的雜草。因為這樣的雜草可能會讓我們分心，並讓我們的目光轉離上帝。

After burying a few seeds in a planter in my backyard, I waited to see the results. Reading that the seeds would sprout within ten to fourteen days, I checked often as I watered the soil. Soon I saw a few green leaves pushing their way out of the soil. But my bubble burst quickly when my husband told me those were weeds. He encouraged me to pull them quickly so that they wouldn’t choke the plants I was trying to grow.

Jesus also told of the importance of dealing with intruders that can impede our spiritual growth. He explained a portion of His parable this way: when a sower cast his seeds, some “fell among thorns . . . and choked the plants” (Matthew 13:7). Thorns, or weeds, will do just that to plants—stop their growth (v. 22). And worry will surely stunt our spiritual growth. Reading Scripture and praying are great ways to grow our faith, but I’ve found I need to watch out for the thorns of worry. They’ll “choke” the good word that has been planted in me, making me focus on what could go wrong. 

The fruit of the Spirit, found in Scripture, includes such things as love, joy, peace (Galatians 5:22). But in order for us to bear that fruit, in God’s strength we need to pull any weeds of doubt or worry that may distract us and cause us to focus on anything other than Him.