Pressure and Thorned Hearts

A little pressure can be helpful. A deadline might push me to finish. When I need to organize scattered thoughts, it can help me find a clearer message. But pressure can also become too much. Sometimes I can’t tell if it’s making me better or quietly wearing me down. I’ve also observed that pressure affects everyone in different ways.

I’ve read and preached on the parable of the sower many times. But during a recent devotional reading of Mark 4:18–19, I noticed something new, especially in The Clear Word paraphrase: “Those who are represented by the seed that falls among thorny weeds are also glad to receive the good news, but the day-by-day responsibili-ties, the chance to make money, or the desire to have more conve-niences bring on pressures, and soon the word is choked out, making it unfruitful.”

Jesus talks about worries, wealth, and desires. These pressures are real, but they don’t choke the Word by themselves. What matters is how the heart responds when under pressure.

In the parable, both the seed and the thorns grow in the same soil. The Word is received with joy, but other priorities are left to grow unchecked. The problem isn’t having responsibilities, being productive, or seeking opportunities. The real issue is what we let become most important.

Everyday responsibilities and chances to earn money aren’t wrong. But when they quietly take over, they slowly push out the life of the Word. This choking happens little by little, almost without us noticing. It’s a slow shift in our priorities.

The thorny soil isn’t just overwhelmed by what’s happening around it. It’s left unguarded. The Word is welcomed, but not kept safe.

We can’t remove all pressure from life. But we can decide what we nurture.

In the end, the real pressure comes from within. The thorns show what the heart has chosen to grow.

-Pastor Lim