Weedkiller

Pouring God’s Truth on Our Character Defects

It’s that time of year when we can spend more time in the garden or park, enjoying fresh air and sunshine (if we’re lucky!) We appreciate the beauty of late spring flowers, but will probably spot pesky weeds pushing their way through the soil too. The weeds may prompt us to reach for the trowel – or the weedkiller.

In recovery, it’s been said that our character defects are like weeds – with the roots being our wrong or distorted belief systems. I can certainly identify with this. There were several roots to my eating disorders – including self-hatred and the belief that no-one liked me. However, at a time of deep hurt and in a very special way, God led me to the ‘weedkiller’ that specifically killed my kind of ‘weed’. Nahum 1:7, “The Lord…cares for those who trust in him”, was the ‘weedkiller’ I needed. Whenever I was filled with self-disgust or loneliness, I poured on the truth that God cares for me. The lies died, and today my worth is found in Jesus – and my life is transformed.

Do you hold a negative or destructive belief that constantly trips you up? Maybe it’s time to rifle through the garden shed and reach for the weedkiller.

The Bible is the ‘garden shed’. In it we find a wealth of tools to care for our lives. Though the Bible doesn’t give us a one-verse-fits-all answer for freedom from life’s hurts and struggles, there are verses that we can use to pour ‘weedkiller’ on our hurts and character defects, helping us replace unhealthy belief systems with truth. 

Maybe you don’t yet know what your ‘weeds’ and ‘roots’ are? Even if you do, perhaps it’s difficult to identify the right ‘weedkiller’! I recommend finding a good Celebrate Recovery group and working through the Participant’s Guides in a Step Study group or with a sponsor. Identify for yourself the ‘weeds’ in your heart and mind, and seek God’s truth – the ‘weedkiller’ – to challenge the lies that cause you pain. If there isn’t a Celebrate Recovery group near you, talk to someone you trust who loves Jesus and understands the recovery journey. 

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” Timothy 3:16

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” Romans 12:2a

Father God, Thank You that the Bible is full of Your words to me. Please help me to replace the lies I have believed – about myself and You – with Your truth. In Jesus’ Name. Amen