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“Some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold… Whoever has ears ought to hear.” – Jesus (Mark 4:8-9).
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Fertile soil is only fertile because it has been wounded.
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Think about it.
In order to make soil fertile, one must penetrate it, break it open, and repeatedly separate it. Only after this set period of chaos, is the ground ready to receive life.
And when placed inside that soft, broken ground, seeds have the greatest chance of growing – developing into strong, sturdy plants.
Any plant that has borne good fruit was once a tiny seed placed inside fertile – broken – soil.
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The same is true for us.
When we’re in a dark place, it can seem like we’re buried.
Perhaps we’ve been planted. Only now we must bloom.
The truth is, those wounded areas in our lives have the greatest potential for growth.
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Where have I been wounded? Where do I have the opportunity to bloom?
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It is precisely these areas where Jesus, the Divine Gardener, wants to plant a seed, because ironically enough, a broken heart – the logic goes – presents the greatest opportunity for growth.
May the Lord’s peace take deep root in us, especially where we’ve been broken, so that we can experience the beauty of Paul’s words, “All things – all things! – work for the good of those who love God.”