How to Conquer Seven Destructive Invaders

Best Fall Colors

Roots may start small but, eventually--with loving care, pampering, and feeding--they grow into beautiful plants, flowers, or a tree in our yard. It's a slow process, but watching the progress is quite satisfying and soon we see the lush result of our efforts.

Sometimes, especially for those of us who are not gardeners, the plants start wilting, turn brown and ugly, and never grow into anything beautiful. It's like a poison that invades the entire root and we are not even aware of the cause!

Our Roots Are Growing!

Since we are now on our own as single-again women, we have the fantastic choice of starting a beautiful "garden" with our lives. Yes, we do understand it's extremely difficult to even think about what to do or how to do it at this point. So, we ask ourselves, what if I just don't do anything? What if I just sit here all day long twirling my thumbs? What if I use the time to start blaming others for my problems?

Those certainly are choices too. We can just stop caring for ourselves and allow our "roots" to stop growing. No one is saying we can't do that if we desire. But it will require one thing. It will require that we admit we have given up. If we believe that hopeless thought, then inertia will take control of our lives and nothing good will sprout in us. We are still breathing, but not thriving. Existing, but unable to move. We need nourishment so we can grow!

The point here is that we are stronger than all those moments of disappointments, abuse (physical or emotional), resentments, and pain. We are here, aren't we? Regardless of what we think about what happened to us, we have not given up by any means! We have fought with everything we have in us to get to this point. Our roots are growing, slowly maybe, but growing nonetheless! Congratulations, sister!

Seven Destructive Invaders

Friendly Invader

One simple truth about gardens is they require constant weeding or unpleasant things begin to flourish. Our lives are like that too. After what we have been through, we most certainly will need to clear all the harmful and destructive invaders to free ourselves completely.  

Think about the following "invaders or poisonous weeds." We have all had them spring up into our hearts, sometimes repeatedly. The Bible says we have a spiritual "thief" (enemy) who will destroy us if we don’t pay attention. So, take these seven invaders seriously:

Bitterness

Disappointment

Resentment

Grudges

Jealousy

Conflict/Arguments
Hatred

[Please note: If any of these feelings bother you to the point of destruction, please speak immediately with a counselor.]

God plainly says, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT). In other words, He is our answer.

A Flourishing and Glorious Garden

There is solid help available both in this world and from God, our Heavenly Father. He provides us a Helper called the Holy Spirit to guide us through all the "destructive invaders" so we can create a flourishing and glorious garden. One beautiful Truth to hang onto is: we will receive many blessings if we seek God instead of listening to the thief/enemy.  

"Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many" (Hebrews 12:15 NLT).

How Tall Are You?

It’s so common in California and the Southwest United States to see miles and miles of palm trees waving in the breeze that we often never even think about how they got so very tall. There are many varieties for many tastes from the fan palms to queen, date, and royal palms. They just look beautiful and we let it go at that thought.

Palm trees have shallow roots, and so it is a wonder how they rarely fall over! But, unlike other trees, it is all in the amazing root “arms” that grow outward anywhere from 25 feet to 50 feet away depending on the type of species. Most of us can barely appreciate this feat of nature, but surely the men and women who climb higher and higher to trim these palms have a greater respect for these “anchored” creations. God knew what He was doing.

We humans on the other hand, go about our lives struggling and twisting and turning trying to stay upright without toppling over with fear and anxiety. Could it be our “roots” may not be strong enough? As each day passes and our lives seem dull and boring, or perhaps, uneasy and unsure, we could ask ourselves if we have grown outward by first establishing a daily habit of calming and focusing on the One who created us.

This circadian practice goes a long way in helping us to handle whatever comes our way whether it is getting the kids out the door to school, making it to a meeting at work on time, or paying the bills yet again. But, this spiritual routine is especially important when we have to face a cancer diagnosis, figuring out how we will make it on our own when the divorce papers are delivered, or living on the streets with our child in hand.

Just knowing where and to Whom we can rely on for reassurance and hope, is the best start to finding the answers. We have to understand God will never leave us or turn us away, no matter if we turned our backs on Him and went our own way in the past, or not. Our God has a BIG heart!

Some of us out there may not have known the Lord as our Savior when life started falling apart. It was devastating to find out we were entirely on our own with nowhere to go up, down, or sideways. We were truly lost and without hope. But by choosing to know and communicate with God when things are going well, we will never be uprooted and overturned when mountainous problems and tragedy strikes.

We may often ask how others do it. How they make things look so easy even in the face of major life changes and loss. There really is only one answer to that dilemma: We either need to be as tall as a palm tree, or, we need a Savior on our side Who created the palm tree!

“We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost. We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way. . .” Isaiah 53:6a The Message.