The Parable of the Soils: Why Some Hearts Can't Hear
Jesus said the seed is the word of God, but it's all about the condition of the soil—the condition of the heart—as to how that seed takes root. God is the faithful sower, constantly scattering His word. The question isn't whether He's speaking; it's whether our hearts are prepared to receive what He's saying.
In the parable of the sower, Jesus describes four different soil conditions. What's fascinating is that the same heart can be good soil in one area but rocky or thorny in another. Understanding this can revolutionize how we approach hearing God's voice.
The Four Soil Conditions
Hard Soil - This represents hearts that have been trampled down so hard that God's word can't even penetrate. Life has beaten down this part of the heart through repeated disappointment, betrayal, or trauma. The seed just bounces off the surface.
Shallow Soil - Here the word penetrates but has no depth. There are no roots to go down and get moisture. This often represents areas where we want quick fixes but aren't willing to do the deeper work of transformation.
Rocky/Thorny Soil - This is where worries, anxiety, or affection for the riches and pleasures of this life choke out God's word. The thorns represent anything that competes for our attention and trust.
Good Soil - This soil is fertile and open to receive the seed. It represents a heart condition that's prepared to both receive and act on what God is saying.
Modern-Day Thorns
In our culture, the thorns that choke out God's word often look different than they did in Jesus' day, but they're just as effective:
Busyness: We get caught up in activity—even good activity like ministry and service—and lose connection with God Himself. I struggled with this for years, getting so busy serving God that I wasn't spending time with God.
Numbing behaviors: We check out through food, entertainment, social media, work, shopping—anything that helps us avoid sitting with our thoughts and feelings. These create noise that drowns out God's gentle voice.
Worry and control: When we're anxious about finances, relationships, health, or future outcomes, that anxiety creates static in our spiritual reception. We can't hear clearly when we're focused on problems rather than on God's character.
Hidden idols: Money, approval, success, comfort—anything we trust in more than God becomes a competing voice that makes it difficult to discern His guidance.
The Same Heart, Different Conditions
Here's what I've discovered: you can have good soil when it comes to your health but rocky soil when it comes to finances. You might hear God clearly about ministry decisions but struggle to hear Him about relationships.
This is normal and doesn't mean you're spiritually deficient. It simply means different areas of your heart need different kinds of attention and healing.
For example, maybe you worry about money because of childhood poverty, so financial decisions create anxiety that blocks clear hearing. Or perhaps past relationship betrayals make it difficult to trust God's guidance about people.
Preparing the Soil
The beautiful thing about soil is that it can be transformed. Hard ground can be broken up. Rocky soil can be cleared. Thorns can be removed. Here's how:
Hard soil needs the plow of God's love to break through years of disappointment and pain. This often requires healing prayer, counseling, or simply letting God minister to those wounded places.
Shallow soil needs depth, which comes through consistent time in God's presence and His word. Quick spiritual fixes don't create lasting transformation.
Rocky/thorny soil needs the thorns removed. This means identifying and addressing the competing voices, worries, and idols that choke out God's word.
Good soil needs to be maintained through ongoing relationship with God, regular spiritual disciplines, and community with others who are also pursuing Him.
God Never Stops Sowing
Remember, God is the sower in this parable. He doesn't stop scattering seed just because some soil isn't ready. He's constantly speaking, constantly offering wisdom, constantly extending His love and guidance.
Sometimes people tell me they haven't heard from God in months or years. But when we explore their story, we often discover that God has been speaking—through circumstances, through other people, through that gentle inner knowing—but they weren't recognizing it as His voice.
The condition of our soil affects our ability to receive what He's constantly giving.
Practical Soil Management
Ask yourself these questions:
Are there areas of my life where I consistently struggle to hear God clearly?
What worries or anxieties might be creating "thorns" in my heart?
Am I too busy with good activities to spend time in God's presence?
Are there unhealed wounds that have hardened parts of my heart?
What am I trusting in more than God?
The goal isn't perfection—it's preparation. As you identify areas where your soil needs attention, invite God into that process. He's not just the sower; He's also the gardener who wants to help prepare your heart to receive everything He has for you.
If you're ready to do deeper work in preparing the soil of your heart to hear God more clearly, there are resources available to guide you through this transformative process.
Blessings,
Susan Dewbrew