My Love can be like a sharp, harsh blade that breaks the hardened ground of hearts and churns it over and over. My Love is like the fertilizer that brings new possibilities into the now-soft heart soil. The storm, harsh, churning blade and the fertilizer are all necessary before beautiful flowers and good food can spring up in your Life.
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine dresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. . . . 6If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned . . . 8By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
Isaiah 61:11 For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up, So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
Psalm 119:71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.
Romans 5:3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Luke 8:11 Now this is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 The seeds along the path are those who hear, but the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 The seeds on rocky ground are those who hear the word and receive it with joy, but they have no root. They believe for a season, but in the time of testing, they fall away.14 The seeds that fell among the thorns are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does not mature.15 But the seeds on good soil are those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop.