The Soil of the Soul… Plowed Hearts… Furrows of Faith… Broken Ground… the Harvest of Grace… In this spectacular image I took the day before Easter, an extended field stretches out before us, its soil a rich tapestry of dark, earthy hues. The furrows cut deep into the ground, creating a mesmerizing pattern that draws the eye and stirs the soul. The distant power lines and buildings on the horizon remind the world beyond this tranquil scene, while the clouds above paint the sky in a delicate shade of blue, hinting at the promise of new life and growth to come.
As I gaze upon this field, I am struck by the realization that the journey of the soil is not unlike the journey of our hearts, especially during times of war and turmoil. In the depths of winter, the ground lies frozen and unyielding, much like our souls when we are gripped by the icy tendrils of fear, despair, and grief. The harsh realities of the ongoing full-scale war leave us feeling numb and lifeless, unable to see beyond the bleak landscape of our pain.
Then comes spring, when the soil is plowed and turned, its surface broken and rough. It looks like it is bringing even more pain and brokenness. This, too, reflects our hearts as we begin to confront and cope with the wounds of war, the loss of loved ones, and the shattering of our dreams. The process is painful, and the resulting terrain appears ugly and uninviting to those who do not understand the purpose behind the upheaval… for many who watch our lives from outside…
Yet, it is in this very brokenness that the valid and actual work begins. Just as the farmer tills the soil to prepare it for the seeds of new life, so too does our Heavenly Stranger labor in the depths of our being, cultivating the ground of our hearts to plant His Kingdom. Amid our suffering, He is present, working tirelessly to remove the stones of bitterness and resentment, to break up the clods of anger and unforgiveness, and to enrich the soil of our souls with the nourishing balm of His love and grace…
He brings even more pain and grief… We do not like it… We hate this pain and grief… But what shall we do except trust in the unseen work of the Master Gardener? We may not always look good in your eyes… in the eyes of our employers and colleagues… in the eyes of the world… our hearts look raw and exposed… our ministries look seemingly barren and unfruitful…
But our ultimate calling is not to appear polished and put-together; it is to yield ourselves to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, to allow Him to cultivate within us a harvest of righteousness and peace…
As we endure the hardships of the ongoing full-scale Russian war in Ukraine, we cling to the hope of Easter, the promise of resurrection life that springs forth from the very depths of death and decay. Just as Christ emerged victorious from the tomb, His broken body now glorified and whole, so too shall we rise… someday in the future… from the ashes of our suffering, our hearts renewed and transformed by the power of His love…
In the end, it is not the outward appearance of our lives that matters but the fruit of the Holy Spirit that we bear for the Kingdom of God to make it more excellent and greater in our lives and ministries. Like the field that lies fallow in the winter and is plowed in the spring, our souls undergo seasons of darkness and disruption. But as we surrender ourselves to the skillful hands of the Divine Husbandman, we can trust that He is at work, preparing us to bring forth a bountiful harvest of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
So let us not lose heart, dear friends, even as the battle rages around us. Let us fix our eyes on the One who can bring beauty from ashes, hope from despair, and life from death… even if it takes years… Let us allow Him to till the soil of our hearts, knowing that in due time, we will reap a harvest of blessing if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9)… even if it takes years… For in the end, it is not our own strength or goodness that will see us through, but the unwavering faithfulness of the One who has called us to be laborers in His field, for the sake of His Kingdom and His glory… even if it takes years… Our Mission has not changed…
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Taras Dyatlik, Ukraine
766 days of the ongoing full-scale Russian war against Ukraine
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