Be wary of setbacks in your daily life

Many things have been said about life. It is compared to a journey; the driver of the car needs to know when to shift gears because the gradient is not straight and constant. There are corners, bends, rough or smooth or dry or wet or muddy or tarmac roads.

Life is also likened to an adventure - it will throw you unexpected, unplanned and unanticipated situations. For example, when walking in a forest there are high chances of encountering a dangerous wild animal or getting lost in there. Or receiving a phone call that causes a mixture of emotions and changes your life forever either positively or negatively - death of a loved one or a rotary win.

Some people live their lives believing that nothing bad can ever happen to them. In life, there will be times when you will cry or not understand what is going on. Jesus encouraged his disciples by telling them, “These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

In the book of Matthew Chapter 13, Jesus gave two parables: The first is of a sower who went out to sow seeds. Some fell on dry ground by the wayside and birds came and ate them. This is the person who hears the word and does not understand it, and then the devil comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart.

Others fell on stones, where they did not have much soil. They sprang up immediately but because they had no root or depth of the soil, the sun scorched them and they withered away. This is the person who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; but because they do not have root, they only endure for a while.

When trails, tribulations or persecutions arise because of the word, they stumble and fall. Others fell among thorns and sprang up but the thorns choked them. This is the person who hears the word but the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word out and they become unfruitful.

Lastly, others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some hundred, sixty and thirtyfold. This is the person who hears the word and understands it and bears much fruit (Matthew 13:1-23).

The second is about a farmer who planted wheat in his farm but at night his enemy came and planted tares (injurious weeds) among them.

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When the wheat sprouted and produced a crop, the tares also appeared. His servants asked him why tares were growing in the field yet he had planted wheat. He told them an enemy had done it.

The servants asked if they should go and gather the tares up. He replied, “No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let them both grow together until the harvest. And at the time of harvest, I will say to the reapers: First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them; then gather the wheat into my barn.”

Out of nowhere, the tares grew! Has anything ever happened to you out of nowhere; when you never anticipated it? Whenever you see demons, devils or opposition rise against you it is a sign that there is something great God is doing in your life (Matthew 13:24-30).

Facts about tares: First, tares entangle themselves on the roots of the wheat and impede or slow its growth. The devil will slow you down and apply brakes on your growth. Second, tares remove or suck up or drains nutrients from the soil such that the wheat lacks essential nutrients to grow. You can be surrounded by people ‘planted’ by Satan to suck life out of you.

Third, tares never produce fruit. They only produce seeds very quickly which will always keep you in multiplied trouble. When the devil attacks, you need to self-examine whether it is your fault or that you attracted the problem. It is all about sowing and reaping; seed time and harvest time which will never cease as long as the earth remains.

You reap what you sow! In the case of the wheat farmer, it was not him; it is the enemy who came in the dead of the night and sowed the tares. Sometimes the attack or sickness or accident is not normal and you know the devil has caused it. Due to today’s level of modernization and sophistication, we have gotten to a place where we forget that the devil lives; and his work is to steal, kill and destroy.

You do not always have to deal with the enemy immediately he attacks. Quick impulses are a sign of immaturity. This is not the time to be quick in your responses no matter the attack; instead, be still and know that he is God. There is no day the weed will prevent the wheat from growing nor the devil outsmart God!