Life can sometimes feel like a never-ending cycle. One bad decision can lead to another, and before you know it, you’re stuck in a pattern of mistakes, regrets, and frustration. This is where Jill is in her life, and she’s blaming everyone but herself. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a lovely woman of faith, truly dedicated to serving others, but Jill is struggling with bitterness, even to the point of wishing harm on her ex who divorced her almost five years ago.

Adventurous and outgoing, Jill loves to travel. Her ex-husband never did, and when she’d go on trips with her girlfriends, he was dutiful—took care of everything and supported her living a carefree existence. But when a financial rough patch hit, and his desire to start a family took a back seat, Jill was unsympathetic. She blamed him for not having enough ambition and trying to hold her back. This more than anything, caused the demise of their marriage. Her ex remarried and started a family with his new wife, and Jill is so full of resentment that she vents to anyone that will listen.

We all come into this world with tremendous potential to do good things for God’s Kingdom. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) tells us, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” As long as we’re razor-sharp clear that God is the One with the plan, and we’re the ones responsible for following it, a life of abundance is our reward. However, when we neglect our potential to do good things for God’s Kingdom, and become overly focused on our own personal agendas, we invest our energies in the wrong places, and there’s a consequence for this.

God commands us in Ephesians 4:23 to be renewed in the spirit of our minds. This means renewal at the deepest core—a total revamp in the way we think and the kinds of attitudes we may have. Most of us grow up having learned lessons that are both productive and unproductive. We sometimes develop habit patterns and ways of thinking that are unproductive to our walk in Christ. It isn’t the easiest thing to hear, but we must stretch outside our comfort zones and learn to be flexible and pliable to the plan God has for our lives.

In other words, it’s our responsibility to create an environment in our hearts and minds where renewal to God’s Word and Will takes place. This is a place where we’re not constantly bombarded with negativity boomeranging back at us from the negative thoughts and behaviors that we’ve put out there.

In Galatians 6:7-9 (NLT), through the Apostle Paul, God gives us a straightforward reminder of His Law of Sowing and Reaping: “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

The law of sowing and reaping is simple: if you sow good things—kindness, love, self-control, and faithfulness—you will eventually reap a harvest of peace, joy, and blessing. But if you sow bad things—bitterness, anger, selfishness, and sin—you will find yourself harvesting pain, regret, and destruction.

The Choice is Ours

The law of sowing and reaping doesn’t just apply to bad choices; it applies to good ones, too. Galatians 6:8 reminds us, “Those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit” Jill could choose differently. She could choose to forgive. She could choose to trust God with her hurts instead of allowing them to define her. She could start sowing seeds of grace, mercy, and peace into her life.

Forgiving doesn’t mean the pain goes away, but it means she’s choosing to let go of the cycle of reaping what she’s sowed. When Jill starts to forgive, she renews her mind and begins to break free from that negative cycle. She feels lighter, freer, and more in tune with the Holy Spirit. Her relationships begin to heal, and her heart finds peace. Forgiveness doesn’t erase the wrong that was done to her, but it opens the door for God’s grace to work in her life.

Don’t Give Up

Bitterness, resentment, anger, arrogance, and any other remnant of darkness will block our blessings, but it doesn’t have to be this way. We don’t have to stay stuck. Even if you’ve been sowing seeds of negativity or living in the consequences of past mistakes, God offers a way out. In Galatians 6:9, Paul encourages us: “Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” The harvest of blessing comes when we choose to follow the Spirit’s leading and step out of our cycle of bad choices. This can be challenging. Jill might not feel like forgiving, but she can trust that doing so will eventually bear fruit. She might not see the change right away, but the seeds she plants today will lead to a harvest of joy, peace, and life.

Break the Cycle

When we sow to the flesh by holding onto our hurt and allowing anger to fester, it doesn’t just affect us in one moment. The cycle continues. Jill’s relationships are strained. Her spiritual life becomes dry, and she feels disconnected from God. She tries to pray but can’t seem to shake the bitterness that clouds her thoughts. It’s like she’s stuck in a cycle of sowing and reaping, where each wrong decision keeps coming back around.

Whether you’re like Jill, holding onto bitterness, or facing a different struggle, it’s time to break the cycle. Choose today to sow to the Spirit. Choose love over anger, grace over bitterness, and forgiveness over resentment. God will honor those choices and will bring about a harvest of life and peace in your heart. God’s grace is always available to help you start sowing something new and fresh. Don’t grow weary of doing good, for in the right time, you will reap a harvest of blessings. ■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“The Law of Sowing and Reaping”, written by Rev. Fran Mack. Edits by Kim Times and K. Lizzie for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2025. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.