Bury X Plant

by Rapha Abreu·August 10, 2023·3 min read

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There is a big difference between burying and planting. Many times we confuse these two words and take actions that take us off the right path or take us in the wrong direction.

What’s the difference?

Even if there is nothing in the bible that directly compares “burying” and “planting”, there are several passages that treat each of these concepts in isolation.

In Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 we see the following passage:

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot”

The term “bury” is seen, for example, in the text of Luke 9:60, where it is written:

“Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Planting is sowing to reap something in the future, burying is linked to burial, the completion of something. In our lives, we need to have discernment and wisdom to understand when to plant and when to just bury.

Closed cycles

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
2 Corinthians 5:17

We’ve all heard that life is made of cycles. For a new one to start, it will often be necessary for one to close.

At certain times in our lives we are so attached to a cycle that we are afraid to end it and, with that, we prevent another from starting. We focus so much our strength on something, we pray for it, we water it, we care for it, we invest our dreams… While God is saying “Let go! Bury it! I have a brand new seed here in My hands for you to plant something greater good…”

Burying demonstrates the natural cycle of life, like when someone we love passes away. What was lived is honored with respect and dignity, we keep good memories of everything we went through and we took lessons from that time that made us grow and overflow. But when it’s time to close, it’s no use holding back. We need to let go when God says He wants to take you somewhere else.

Cycles that begin

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up. Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Isaiah 43:19

You still haven’t met all the people who will love you, you haven’t visited all the places that will leave a feeling of home in your heart. All the achievements you had are leading you to new achievements.

You’re also going to have a lot of other sad days where you’re not going to be 100%, we’re not immune to that. But you will have an even greater amount of good days and achievements. Just focus on God and His promises, allow yourself to be guided by Him. Then, on the bad day you will be strengthened and on the good day you will be graced.

Trust in God’s newness, asking Him for courage for new steps and being grateful for the old ways. Everything you’ve experienced has brought you to where you are today and is taking you to another, even better place. Don’t dwell on what was and don’t feel anxious about what will come.

Bury what needs to be finalized now and use your present time to water and care for the seed that God has given into your hands. I’m sure the fruit will surprise you!