Tears were streaming down my face as I was driving home from a meeting last week. Discouraging news at work was compounded with disappointment, rejection, and hurt that I had already experienced over the previous few days. My aching heart was overwhelmed, and so I cried. As I wept, my hearts prayer was: “Why have you put me here, Lord? My heart cannot grow here.” My heart slowly filled with comfort and love as His still small voice replied: “I only put your heart in good soil, daughter.”

Those words brought peace and clarity. Anxiety was replaced by sovereign stillness and fear was cast out by perfect love. Where the situations around me seemed chaotic and destructive, the way He has prepared for me was made clear. Confidence in His ability to part the seas built up within me. Most importantly though, I was reminded of His goodness and faithfulness toward my heart:  

He truly is the Good Shepherd. – John 10:10

He quiets my soul. – Psalm 23

He always provides for my heart. – Mal 3:10-12

He is attentive to my every need. – Matt 6:8

He has good plans for me. – Jer 29:11

These truths brought much needed comfort and edification. Being assured once again of His character and nature refined my perspective. In situations where I felt hurt or betrayed, I was able to walk through healing and forgiveness. Words of discouragement were transformed and highlighted areas of hope. I could sense strength building up within my spirit. If the Lord is for me, surely none can be against me (Rom 8:31).

With this encouragement, I began to ask the Lord to show me how He has placed my heart in good soil. One by one opportunities, blessings, and answered prayers were revealed to me. My thankful heart then began to repent of the good things the Lord had given to me that I had overlooked or taken for granted. As I continued to walk through this time of prayer, I sensed the Lord telling me to settle my heart into the good soil that He had provided. He was asking me to submit my heart in agreement to all that He had in store for me for this season. The “yes” of my heart gave the Lord greater freedom to move through me and cause my heart to grow. Knowing that He truly does plant my heart in good soil, I can have confidence that this season will yield a rich harvest of abundance and joy.