Recently, I passed by some fields that were choked with weeds and covered in dead grass. My first thought was, Why hasn’t anyone cleaned that up? Almost immediately, another thought followed: Why would they? Won’t nature just take care of it on its own?
And then God did what He often does—He interrupted my thinking with truth:
“I’ve called you to till the land.”
Scripture confirms it. God placed humanity in the Garden “to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15). Caring for creation has always been part of our calling.
But God didn’t stop there.
“I’ve also called you to till your heart.”
That truth became even clearer as I spent time pulling weeds from my own plants this week. I’ll be the first to admit—I don’t have a green thumb. I love being outside and I love the idea of gardens, but the labor itself isn’t easy or enjoyable for me. Even with gloves, my hands got torn up. Some weeds put up a fight that made the whole process feel like a workout.
But beneath the dead growth and stubborn weeds were healthy green buds—waiting. Once the weeds were removed, those plants finally had room to grow, no longer suffocated by things that didn’t belong.
And that’s exactly what God means when He calls us to till our hearts.
Scripture says we are to “break up fallow ground” so righteousness can grow (Hosea 10:12). A fallow heart is neglected—hardened by time, distraction, or unaddressed sin. God calls us to do the uncomfortable work of breaking that hardness so new life can take root.
We are called to care for God’s creation—and that includes ourselves. We are His beloved creation. And just like land must be tended intentionally, so must the heart.
This work isn’t easy. Weeding never is. But there are things that grow in our hearts that God never intended to be there: bitterness, anger, resentment, jealousy, pride. Left unchecked, they choke out joy and hinder intimacy with God.
Scripture contrasts that clearly. The works of the flesh produce destruction, but a heart led by the Spirit produces life—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self‑control (Galatians 5:19–25).
Tilling the heart is not a one‑time task. It’s a daily process. Every day this world throws things at us that try to take root where they don’t belong. That’s why keeping our hearts grounded in Scripture is essential—because everything in life flows from there (Proverbs 4:23).
And when our hearts are well‑tended, what God grows in us doesn’t stay with us. Like seeds carried on the wind, it helps others flourish too.
In essence, tilling the heart requires:
- Breaking up hardness through repentance
- Removing weeds like sin, pride, and distraction
- Preparing the soil with humility and obedience
- Receiving the Word with faith and submission
- Producing fruit through righteous living
The work may be hard—but the harvest is worth it.
angelaschmeling 