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From our series: Fixing What’s Broken To Build Back Better
Scripture: Luke 13:6–9 (KJV)
As we continue our year-long journey of “Fixing What’s Broken to Build Back Better,” I want to speak a word over somebody who’s been looking at the same situation so long you started thinking it would never move. You’ve been praying. You’ve been waiting. You’ve been trying. And some days, if we’re honest, you’ve been wondering if God forgot your address.
I’m here to tell you what the Spirit has been saying all along: it’s about to change.
What Dunkirk Teaches Us About Sudden Shifts
During World War II, there was a moment when it looked like everything was over for thousands of soldiers trapped near Dunkirk.
It was May 1940, and 400,000 Allied soldiers were trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk, France. The German army had them completely surrounded. The English Channel was behind them, Nazi forces were closing in from three sides. Military experts looked at the situation and declared it hopeless. Complete annihilation seemed certain.
These brave men had fought valiantly, but now they faced total defeat.
The British Admiralty estimated they might rescue 30,000 men at best.
But something miraculous happened.
For nine incredible days, through fog and storms that grounded German aircraft, a flotilla of 850 vessels—destroyers, fishing boats, pleasure craft, even rowboats—crossed the treacherous waters. Ordinary citizens became heroes.
What looked like total defeat became “the miracle of deliverance.” 338,000 men were rescued when rescue seemed impossible!
A way appeared where there wasn’t one.
The same is true for you, Friend.
That’s exactly the kind of God we serve. Sometimes the enemy thinks he has you surrounded, but he doesn’t realize he’s standing next to a God who can shift the whole atmosphere. It’s about to change.
Jesus Walks Up on a “Stuck” Situation
In Luke 13:6–9, Jesus gives a parable about a man who had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit and found none. Not once. Not twice. But year after year.
And the owner finally says what many people say when they’ve waited long enough: “Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?”
In other words: “This is taking up space and producing nothing. It’s wasting time. It’s wasting ground. It’s wasting opportunity.”
The Ministry of Mercy: “Let It Alone This Year Also”
But then the dresser of the vineyard speaks up — and this is where the message lives. He says, “Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it.” (Luke 13:8)
Now watch this: the gardener doesn’t deny the truth. The tree has no fruit. He doesn’t make excuses for it. But he pleads for more time and more care.
That’s the mercy of God. God could have cut some of us down a long time ago. God could have walked away. God could have said, “I’m done.” But He kept you. He covered you. He extended mercy while you were still messy.
When God Says “Dig”
The dresser says, “I’m going to dig about it.” That means the gardener is going down under the surface. Because sometimes the reason you don’t see fruit is not because God isn’t working — it’s because God is working where people can’t see it.
Digging is uncomfortable. Digging means disruption. Digging means God starts dealing with the root of the matter — not just the symptoms you’ve been trying to manage.
Sometimes God digs up attitudes. Sometimes He digs up hidden bitterness. Sometimes He digs up old wounds you buried but never healed. Sometimes He digs up habits you’ve been feeding in the dark.
When God Adds “Dung”
Then the gardener says, “and dung it.” Now let’s tell the truth: dung doesn’t smell good. It’s not pretty. It’s not cute. But it’s fertilizer — and fertilizer is what helps dead-looking things come back to life.
Sometimes God uses what you didn’t want — the pressure, the embarrassment, the hardship, the delay — and He turns it into what you needed.
The enemy meant it to make you bitter. God meant it to make you better.
For the Backslidden, the Discouraged, and the “Almost Done”
If you’ve been drifting… God is calling you back. If you’ve been stuck… God is shaking the ground. If you’ve been dry… God is working under the surface.
And if you’ve been listening to the “cut it down” voice — the voice of shame, condemnation, and defeat — I came to give you Heaven’s word: let it alone this year also. God is not finished.
A Call to Action
The parable ends with responsibility: “And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.” (Luke 13:9)
In other words: God’s mercy is not permission to stay the same. Mercy is an invitation to respond.
So here’s the question: What will you do with your “this year also” season? Will you resist the digging, or will you surrender? Will you stay stuck, or will you let God change you from the inside out?
Join Us This Sunday
Beloved, we don’t just believe God can change things — we’re committing to live like it. Join us this Sunday in person or watch online as we continue our series “Fixing What’s Broken to Build Back Better.” We’re not staying stuck — because yes, we really do want to get better.
Come expecting. Come ready. Come believing. It’s about to change.
Watch or listen to Pastor Lauderdale’s original message It’s About To Change.
Scripture References: Luke 13:6–9