Devotionals by FamilyLife

Mole Crickets
By Carlos Santiago

I’m a Brooklyn-raised city boy, but I dream of being a country one. Maybe it comes from growing up in a world made of concrete, but whatever the reason, I not only dream of wide open fields, but I also like to imagine myself as a farmer. As soon as the temperature allows it, I must get my hands in the dirt and plant something.

This season, I planted corn. The only problem was no matter how much water or fertilizer I used, the plants seemed to be on life support. When harvest season came, I only managed to produce a single, stunted ear of corn. I couldn’t understand it.

A few weeks later, I was working in the garden bed when I realized my problem—a massive mole-cricket infestation. The crickets burrow underground and feast on roots. My poor corn was being fed an ample supply of water and fertilizer but never had the chance to taste it.

Unfortunately, our spiritual lives are often not much different. Many of us go to church regularly. We are watered and fed by the Word. We have great teaching and community, but we aren’t growing as we should. The problem may not be in the spiritual food we are consuming. We might have something interfering with our ability to absorb it. And often, we need to look no further than our own marriages.

In Malachi 2:13-14, God rejected the offerings of His people because they were unfaithful in their marriages. In 1 Peter 3:7, we learn that dishonoring our spouses can hinder our prayers. And even though we all want God to be on our side, James 4:6 teaches that God “opposes the proud.” Bitterness, pride, resentment, unforgiveness, and overall harshness toward our spouses can all block us from receiving what God is trying to give us.

If your life is not producing fruit as it should, maybe what you need isn’t a different church, another sermon, or better worship music. Maybe what you need is to look under the surface and make things right with your spouse.

What does it look like to combat bitterness?

The Good Stuff: Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)

Action Points: Ask God to reveal areas in your marriage that need to be surrendered to Him. If you dare, ask a trusted friend to tell you if there is an area of your life you are overlooking.

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