When I started teaching soil science over 30 years ago, I had such a strong Appalachian accent that when I would say “soil”, it could easily be mistaken for “soul” or vice versa, even to my own ears.
Thus, to be understood by my colleagues and students, I had to slow down and purposely say soil or soul depending on which one I wanted to use at that moment. This deliberate action to distinguish between the two words also made me slow down and think closer about what I wanted to say. The need for slowing in thought and in speech then was a very good thing and still is today.
As a soil scientist, I use the word “soil” a lot nearly every day.
As a Christian, I need to be using the word “soul” a lot more every day.
And I need to be paying even more careful attention to the condition of my soul than the condition of the soil samples for my research or classes. I need to slow my thoughts, and especially my words, to focus on my Jesus, the One who has a beautiful plan for today for both the soil under my feet and the souls of my colleagues, students, and me. For when I slow in both thoughts and words, then I can hear Jesus speaking to me. His still small voice resonates in the soil of my soul with truth and love which will forever change me and my thoughts, words, and actions in good and beautiful ways.
Many times when I’m writing about the interactions of soil science with Jesus, my soul’s desire, I am convicted about the poor condition of the soil of my soul and the need for repentance of pride. And this conviction reminds me of what I usually tell my students before we venture out on a soils field trip, “it’s not a good soils field trip if you come home with clean hands and clothes”.
Keeping that in mind, if I leave the reading of Scripture before seeing, being convicted by, and changing in response to the sacrifice of Christ in covering the dirt of my sins with His blood, then I haven’t really listened, much less learned in the doing. In contrast, I should be praying for change in the soil of my soul for the 100-fold harvest of the Word to be produced in my life as seen in Matthew 13:9.
Only Christ can bring the change.
Only Christ can bring the harvest.
Only Christ can bring eternity starting today.
This was a revised version of one of the first posts I had on this blog. Long story short, I came across that post today when looking for something else. But I felt impressed to edit it and re-post it today in the hopes it might encourage you wherever you are today and no matter what has happened in your past.
God isn’t limited by our pasts or our presents.
In His power, He can and will make our futures far more than we could ever ask or imagine.
Ephesians 3:20-21 AMP Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen
For me, this blog and these books are evidence of how God can and does make much out of my little. And please stay tuned for some exciting news about “The Nevertheless Project” in coming days!
If you want to make sure you don’t miss any future posts, please sign up to follow the blog with your email on the link below:
Written by and copyrighted to Beth Madison, Ph.D., 2026
Soul Scientist 
Leave a comment