God Given… Weeds?

Sometimes we look around at the mess this world is in, and we feel helpless. Prices are going up, medicines have long lists of side effects, and even what used to be good food has been tampered with. But what if I told you that everything we need—truly need—is still right under our noses? God never left us without a backup plan. He wrote one right into the earth, long before anyone ever needed a pharmacy or a hospital or a grocery store. It's growing in our yards, on our hillsides, and tucked away in little corners that most folks pass by without a second glance.

I was out in my yard not long ago and saw this tall, fuzzy plant that I used to overlook. Turns out, it’s mullein—and wouldn’t you know it, it's one of the best things you can use for respiratory problems. That same plant that folks mow down thinking it's just a weed? It helps open up the lungs, soothes a cough, and fights infections. God knew what we’d be facing before we ever got here.

And then there's wild garlic—it starts popping up in spring before most people are even thinking about planting. You can eat it raw, cook with it, and it helps cleanse the blood and build immunity. He gave it to us before the modern idea of a “detox” ever existed. And if you’ve ever walked through a patch of it, you know how it smells. That’s no accident—it even smells like it's doing something good for you.

We’re surrounded by these little reminders that the Creator built a system of life that was self-sustaining. I’m not saying ditch your doctor or stop your prescriptions—use wisdom. But I am saying, don’t ignore the gifts growing right outside your door. They were placed there on purpose.

It’s not just a nice thought. This isn’t wishful thinking. It’s the design of the Most High from the very beginning. In Genesis 1:11, it says: “Then God said, ‘Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.’ And it was so.” And then down in verse 29, He says something that ought to make us pause: “Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food.”

That word for "herb" there in the Hebrew is ‘eseb’. It means more than just grass or salad greens—it refers to any green plant that springs up, especially those that are edible or useful. And He didn't say "some herbs." He said every one. That includes the dandelions we spray, the plantains we step on, the chickweed we ignore. These things were never meant to be nuisances. They were gifts.

God didn’t just plant food. He planted medicine. And He made it so that everything that comes out of the earth can also bring healing. There’s a pattern to it. He gave the earth to us not just to look at, but to live from.

In Ezekiel 47:12, there’s a picture of this in prophetic language: “Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month... Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.”

That Hebrew word for medicine there is teruphah, and it comes from a root that means healing, restoration. It’s not a bandage—it’s something that returns what was broken back to wholeness. Doesn’t that sound just like our Father? He doesn’t patch us up. He heals us from the inside out.

Even in the Song of Songs, where you'd think it was all about romance and poetry, there’s a moment in chapter 6, verse 2 where it says: “My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.” Those "beds of spices" weren’t just for scent—they were fragrant because they were potent. The Hebrew word used here for "spices" is besamim, which refers to fragrant plants often used in healing and anointing oils.

When He created Eden, He didn’t make it a barren desert. He made it a garden, rich in variety, color, scent, and flavor. Eden wasn’t just beautiful—it was functional. Life-giving. Healing. Balanced.

Somewhere along the way, we traded that in. We got disconnected from the soil. We started trusting test tubes over tree bark. But the original plan was never revoked. It's still active, still growing, still reaching up from the ground waiting for someone to notice.

When I look at a patch of clover now, or see yarrow growing wild on the roadside, I don’t see weeds. I see the hand of God waving at me. I see provision. I see mercy. I see a Father who thought ahead.

Even our ancestors knew this. The older folks knew how to make teas and poultices. They knew what to pick when you had a stomachache or a fever. That kind of knowledge came from living close to the land. And whether they knew it or not, they were living out Psalm 104:14, which says: “He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth.”

That phrase, “herb for the service of man,” in the Hebrew uses the word ‘abodah’, meaning labor, service, or even ministry. These plants were meant to minister to us. Serve us. Support us in our labors. Not just fill our bellies, but nourish our bodies in ways we’re only beginning to rediscover.

There’s nothing "new age" about turning to what God planted. It’s actually ancient. It’s holy. And when you walk with Him long enough, He starts showing you how deep it goes. Not just the healing of your body, but a healing of your trust. A healing of your soul, when you realize that He really did think of everything. That He didn't just create you and toss you into a broken world. He gave you tools to live in it. To heal in it. To thrive in it.

This isn’t about going off-grid or never taking an aspirin again. It’s about realizing that the Great Physician wrote His prescriptions into the leaves long before we learned to read labels.

There’s a reason why the wise men brought frankincense and myrrh to Yeshua when He was born. These weren’t just symbols of wealth or worship—they were powerful plant medicines. Even then, God was showing us that healing and holiness walk hand in hand.

We’ve wandered far from Eden. But the garden still calls. And if you slow down, if you bend down and look, you might just find that what you need has been growing at your feet this whole time. Make and enjoy a meal from it!

I hope this message blessed you. If so, please leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you.

Image is from MY garden! :D