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If there’s one thing I love about Spring, it’s the arrival of warmer temperatures. After what feels like a death-trap of snow, ice, and below-zero weather, May ushers in a new season. A brighter one. One full of renewal, growth, and new birth. Flowers begin to bloom, birds make their way back to the nest, and trees grow colors of budding blooms we haven’t seen in months. Few things are more beautiful than this season. And yet, mental health can still feel heavy, even in a time of light and beauty.
The Bible talks about nature, gardening, and farming a lot. So, I’d like to introduce gardening as a metaphor for nurturing peace through faith. Though it takes time, patience, and cultivation, there are three simple habits we can implement to grow peace in our lives.
1. Plant Seeds of Truth
Growing up, I saw my grandparents tend to their garden year-round. By the time spring and summer rolled around, they’d have thousands of flowers, trees, and crops decorating their acreage. One summer, I decided that I wanted to do the same at my house. I was intentional with what I planted. I hand-picked every flower, vegetable, fruit, and tree. Each one had a fresh start with extra fertilizer, minerals, nutrients, and water. But I had to remember to tend to them every single day.
In the same way, we’re encouraged to replace our intrusive, anxious, and depressing thoughts with truths from Scripture. This isn’t as simple as “not thinking about our bad thoughts,” but rather a continual process of learning to recite God’s Word over the thoughts that trouble us. Christian counselors and psychologists call this reframing, and it works wonders if we’re persistent and consistent!
The next time a worrisome thought pops into your mind, threatening to steal your peace, try meditating on Philippians 4:8 or Romans 12:2. Journal these affirmations on paper, and start each day with one truth. Like planting a “seed,” your mind can come back to this verse often, especially when you’re struggling. Yes, the anxious thoughts might still be there, but Scripture has the power to overcome even the toughest weeds. And eventually, what you sow will begin to grow. It will produce a crop tenfold if you stay constant.
