What My Lawn Taught Me About Following Jesus

I remember when we moved into one of our homes, the landscaping was covered in rocks—lots of rocks. Nearly half the yard was nothing but a giant rock bed. It definitely wasn't my favorite look.

One weekend, my husband and I decided we wanted to remove the rocks and replace them with fresh grass and new flower beds. It was a lot of work. We hauled load after load of heavy rocks. It took days. My back hurt, I was exhausted, and I questioned whether it was worth it.

After removing the rocks, we laid fresh grass in that section of the yard. What made the project even bigger was that the rest of the yard wasn't in great shape either. Most of it was sand, weeds, and patches of struggling grass. It was a lot of effort, but when we finished, it looked so much better.

As time went on and we continued to care for the new grass, we noticed something happening. The healthy grass slowly began to spread into the sandy, weedy areas. Year after year, with watering, mowing, and regular maintenance, the lawn continued to improve.

Every now and then, I would find a rock from the original landscape that had worked its way to the surface and needed to be removed. I had to make time to water the grass, fertilize it, mow it, and pull weeds from the flower beds. It wasn't a one-time project. It required continual attention.

I often think about this when it comes to my relationship with Christ.

At first, following Jesus brought some major changes to my life—changes that felt as significant as removing a yard full of rocks and planting new grass. But over time, I've realized that growth in Christ requires ongoing care and maintenance. Sometimes I discover "rocks" in my life that still need to be removed. Other times, I find weeds that have started to grow and need to be pulled out before they spread.

I nourish my relationship with God by spending time in His Word, praying, and staying connected to a community of believers. Just like a healthy lawn needs water and fertilizer, my faith needs regular care in order to grow.

I think many of us experience a season where we make a significant change in our lives. We put in the hard work, make the shift, and begin something new. But then comes the part we don't always talk about—the maintenance.

Maintenance isn't glamorous. It's often slow, repetitive, and unseen. If I neglect the weeds for a week, there are twice as many the next week. In the same way, when life gets busy, when we grow weary, or when distractions pull us away from the Lord, our spiritual lives can begin to drift.

The good news is that God is patient and faithful. Every day is a new opportunity to tend the garden of our hearts. As we remain connected to Him, He continues the work He began in us, helping us grow stronger, healthier, and more fruitful over time.

Colossians 2:6-7 says, "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude."

We aren't called to simply begin our walk with Christ—we are called to continue in it. We must remain rooted in Him and continue to grow in our faith by reading His Word, spending time in prayer, and being connected to a community of believers.

The truth is that growth takes work. Just like maintaining a healthy lawn requires regular watering, fertilizing, mowing, and weeding, our spiritual lives require ongoing care and attention. Sometimes we become tired. Sometimes life gets busy. Sometimes we don't see immediate results and feel tempted to give up.

But don't grow weary.

Galatians 6:9 reminds us, "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

Keep pulling the weeds. Keep removing the rocks. Keep watering the soil. Keep spending time with Jesus.

Growth may be slow, but God is always at work. In His perfect timing, you will see the fruit. You will reap a beautiful harvest if you do not give up.