Another strange storm.
A suspicious shooting involving ICE agents.
Rising food prices and growing concerns about food safety.
These are just a few of the topics I’ve covered this past week. And while each of them matters, I began to notice something happening internally. It became easy—almost natural—to stay so focused on events in the world that I risked losing sight of my primary purpose for being.
The headlines are relentless. Fear, outrage, confusion, and uncertainty bombard us daily. If we are not careful, even as believers, our minds can become consumed with what is happening around us instead of anchored in what God is doing within us.
As I reflected on this tension, my thoughts turned to a parable Jesus told about the Kingdom of God—the Parable of the Sower.
The Seed and the Soil
Jesus explained that the seed being sown is the Word of God, and the soils represent the condition of human hearts (Matthew 13:1–23). The seed itself is always good. The difference is not in the Word—it is in the soil that receives it.
One particular soil stood out to me:
“The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.” (Luke 8:14)
This is not the heart of someone who rejects God’s Word outright. This is the heart of someone who receives it, believes it—yet slowly allows it to be crowded out.
Choked.
Smothered.
Overtaken.
Not by sin alone—but by distraction.
The Modern Thorns
The thorns Jesus described did not disappear in the first century. They’ve simply changed shape.
Today, they look like:
- Endless news cycles
- Political outrage and division
- Economic anxiety
- Fear-driven media
- Constant alerts, opinions, and emergencies
None of these things are imaginary. Storms are real. Violence is real. Injustice is real. Economic pressure is real. But when these things dominate our attention, they can quietly rob us of something far more vital: spiritual fruitfulness.
The danger is not being informed.
The danger is being consumed.
Jesus never told His followers to ignore the world—but He consistently warned them not to be owned by it.
What the World Cannot Give
The world offers information, but not wisdom.
Noise, but not peace.
Urgency, but not rest.
Jesus said plainly:
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Peace does not come from controlling outcomes.
Security does not come from predicting the future.
Hope does not come from politics, economics, or systems that constantly shift.
Peace comes from Christ ruling the heart.
When the Word of God is choked out, we don’t stop believing—we simply stop bearing fruit. Love grows thin. Joy fades. Peace becomes fragile. Fear takes up residence.
Cultivating Good Soil
So how do we guard our hearts in an age of distraction?
First, we must tend the soil daily. Farmers do not remove weeds once and assume the field will remain clear. Likewise, prayer, Scripture, and quiet reflection are not optional disciplines—they are survival tools.
Second, we must reframe world events through an eternal lens. Paul wrote:
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2)
This does not mean ignoring reality—it means interpreting reality through the truth of God’s Word.
Third, we must choose trust over fear. Anxiety is a thorn that grows quickly, but faith uproots it. When Christ is trusted as Lord—not just Savior—the heart becomes fertile again.
Storms Will Come, But the Seed Still Grows
Storms will continue.
The world will remain broken.
Headlines will grow louder, not quieter.
Yet the Kingdom of God does not advance through panic—it advances through hearts that remain open, humble, and receptive to the Word.
Jesus promised that when the Word falls on good soil, it produces fruit—thirty, sixty, even a hundredfold. That kind of fruit is not rushed. It is cultivated.
May we be a people who stay aware, but not overwhelmed.
Engaged, but not entangled.
In the world, but not choked by it.
And may God make our hearts good soil—so that no storm, no fear, and no distraction can prevent His Word from bearing fruit in us.
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