Ryan Wilhite

“Breaking Through The Crust”

Have you ever felt buried in the dark? Sometimes the weight of life feels so heavy that you wonder how you’re ever going to push through it. I found myself in that place a few months ago.

As time went on, God pushed me through it and used brothers in Christ to help me out. I’d never been through such hard circumstances, but looking back I’m thankful for God allowing me to go through that. Nothing is wasted with Him and every little detail can be used for your good and His glory. Knowing that doesn’t always make those moments any easier though. 

Romans 5:3-4 says “We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

A crop can’t grow without rain and often times that comes with severe storms and stress throughout each season.

Three weeks ago I planted these soybeans on my farthest farm away from my home place. Right after planting we got a heavy rain and the ground crusted over pretty hard.  The rest of my soybeans look great and hadn’t had a chance to check on this one yet. Every year God has a miracle field where He does the impossible. 

I was just telling a good friend about that the other day and thought this season was off to a great start. This may be the miracle field this year. It does not look very good at the moment, just like our circumstances usually don’t from time to time. 

No matter what the outcome is at harvest, God is still great. My identity is in Him alone and He loves us more than we can comprehend. Nothing we do will make Him love us any more or any less.

When I checked this farm last week, these little soybeans were trapped underneath the surface trying to break through.

Most folks would look at this picture and see a struggle. I see a reminder of how powerful God created a seed to be and also how important is to be surrounded by the right people. 

Those beans don’t quit just because there’s resistance above them. They keep pushing toward the light even when buried under pressure, darkness and hard ground.

It also takes others in Christ to help us push through to the other side. Iron sharpens iron and I wouldn’t be who I am today without the amazing people God has surrounded me with.

This may be you right now, crusted over with heavy soil on top of you. I felt buried in the dark recently and had to keep pushing forward as hard as it was. 

There was days I couldn’t hardly breathe and was being attacked from all angles. Spiritual warfare is just as real today as it was thousands of years ago. 

Satan came to steal, kill and destroy. We aren’t fighting against flesh and blood. The good news is, when we’re born again Jesus lives inside of us and can cast out demons and win every battle we face. 

You may be dealing with anxiety, depression,  stress, heartbreak, feeling like a failure, fear, financial pressure, not wanting to be here anymore or disappointment that has you feeling stuck and buried. 

Praying constantly, crying more than ever before, fighting and wondering if you’ll ever break through. Please don’t ever give up. 

I would have missed out on so much if I would have listened to the enemy back in 2011. I saw no other way out back then, but God. 

There’s been so many times I’ve cried out to God “why!?” And asked hard honest questions and getting no answers or direction. Situations I couldn’t understand and didn’t think I’d ever be able to get out of. 

God often does His greatest work underground where nobody else can see it yet. Even when it seems dark and silent, He is always with you and working. 

What looks buried is actually growing for a greater purpose. The pressure you’re under is building the strength and testimony you’ll need in the future. He’s such a loving father and has a plan and purpose for your life.  

If a tiny soybean can shove through hardened soil because God designed it to. Imagine what He can do through a life fully surrendered to Him.  He loves you much more than a little plant. The next breakthrough is always right around the corner and sometimes it takes a little help from friends!