Productive Soil
by Justin Wood, Childhood Cancer Survivor
“The evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart” (Matthew 13:19)
I remember my granddad’s face was twisted and pained. It was like some invisible fist had punched him in the head—and in the heart—and in the stomach … all at the same time. He was a strong man, but he looked crushed and weak. I remember a waiting room, an examination room with big windows, and doctors and nurses moving around me. I was being diagnosed with cancer. At three-and-a-half years old, I did not understand. But I did see that something had stolen my granddad’s strength, and that worried me.
Cancer steals. Cancer steals your “normal.” Cancer steals your health. Cancer can steal your strength.
Jesus is very aware of how things are stolen from us. In the story of the sower, Jesus teaches us that hard and difficult things in life can steal the good things God has sowed into us.
Jesus teaches us that a sower went out and sowed seed on four different places. The seed on the path was eaten by the birds. The seed on the rocky soil grew quickly, but died because it wasn’t rooted well. The seed in the thorns was choked out. But the seed that fell on good soil grew a great crop.
Then Jesus explains the story to them:
First, God’s word is the seed. (Matthew 13:19-23 and 1 Peter 1:23)
Second, people are the soil. (Genesis 2:7, Genesis 3:19)
Third, the birds, rocky soil and thorns are the bad things in life: Satan, trouble, persecutions, worries of life, deceitfulness of wealth and desires for other things, that try to steal or choke the seed of God’s Word. (Matthew 13:19-22)
Fourth, the good soil will grow the good things of God in your life. The Holy Spirit is growing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
I started off sharing my memory of my grandad being devastated by my cancer diagnosis, but my grandad then refused to allow cancer to steal his love. In fact, while I battled cancer, all my family allowed God to turn the rocky places in their hearts into good soil. Do not allow cancer to steal the good things in your life that God wants to grow in you. Allow His Holy Spirit to work in the soil of your heart and to produce good fruit.
Pray: Dear Jesus, make me good soil that produces a harvest of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, by Your power at work in my life. Amen.
Your Turn: What has cancer tried to steal from your heart? Ask the LORD to restore you, strengthen you and help you to grow.
Excerpt from Daily Reflections from Inside the Cancer Journey
Justin lives in Bowling Green, Kentucky with his wife and six homeschooled kids. Through his life Justin has become a wonderful mix of entrepreneur, English teacher and foreign missionary. He is a survivor of childhood cancer. Justin is very grateful for Cancer Companions and the opportunity to be a part of this devotional writing process.