I love my job as a gardener and grounds keeper. It isn’t hard for me to get up in the morning and head out into the garden; in fact, I can’t imagine doing anything else. But “loving the work” doesn’t mean the work is always easy. Gardening is a beautiful vocation, but it is also a constant battle.
Most recently, the front line of that battle has been against rabbits, which have managed to munch their way through thousands of pounds worth of plants. When I’m not defending plants from wildlife, I spend hours on my knees pulling up stubborn weeds. I battle persistent pests and fungal diseases, and I constantly keep an eye on the weather—because adverse weather is the gardener’s most unpredictable foe. And don’t even get me started on the slugs and snails!
The Bible speaks directly to this botanical struggle.
In the book of Genesis, we see that the ground we walk on was changed by the Fall:

Genesis 3:17-19 (NIV)
“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you… By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food…”

Despite the thorns, the thistles, and the aching back, the results—a garden in full bloom—are worth every ounce of effort.

A Different Kind of Storm
When I first became a Christian, I naively assumed the “spiritual weather” would always be fair. I thought that with God on my side, life’s path would be smooth. It didn’t take long to realize the opposite was true. The struggles didn’t disappear; they just changed shape. But there was one massive difference:  I no longer had to struggle alone.
Jesus was very honest about what we should expect in this life:

John 16:33 (NIV)
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Knowing the Enemy
I didn’t realize it at the time, but by choosing to follow Christ, I had acquired a real enemy—one with an army of darkness at his disposal. For a new believer, realizing you are in a spiritual war can be disconcerting. We find that the “slugs and snails” of the spiritual world are far more predatory.
However, as we progress day by day, we learn to “fight the good fight.” We learn that while the prowling lion is real, our Protector is greater.

1 Peter 5:8-10 (NIV)
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith… And the God of all grace… after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

Just like the garden, the “painful toil” of our spiritual lives produces a harvest. We may face pests, storms, and enemies, but we stand firm knowing that with Jesus, the victory is already won.