As a gardener, I have nothing to prove: although I enjoy growing things, I’m just not very good at it. Some herbs and plants do well with vagarious me plus the soil, water, and sun here on the mountain, but others, such as the scraggly rosemary in the middle picture, not so much. Thank goodness, I have nothing to fear. Others who are so gifted produce food I can afford to purchase. 

Relationships, however, are more complicated in the “prove” department. I still harbor fear about how others might think of the true, terribly flawed me. Those fears ironically prove to be snares in our relationships. Fear is not love. So today, as part of my 2025 exploration of humility, I look for guidance.

Prove in human culture

“Okay, so prove it!”  Have you ever said this, challenging someone, or have you been challenged to prove something? A “show me” resulting from a playground brag? Or an intellectual point? Or an emotional feeling: “If you love me, prove it.”

Prove is a verb, meaning to demonstrate the truth or existence of something by evidence or argument. Nothing wrong with that, except to say that, rather than human culture, the Word is the best place to stand when looking for the truth.

Prove in the Old Testament

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. Proverbs 29:25 NIV

In the Bible, fear of God usually means reverence rather than terror. So, that fear is a virtue because it leads us to His truth. But fear of man—demonstrating to humans the reverence we owe to God—leads to deceit, difficulty, even death.

Fear of man ensnares us in lies—as with Abraham lying about his wife Sarah twice and Peter denying Jesus three times. On the other hand, there are also numerous examples that prove God’s love for us, demonstrating the truth that we have nothing to fear when we are in Him, not even death. Or as the author of Hebrews wrote: So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Hebrews 13:6 NIV

Prove in the New Testament

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 KJV

Another Biblical meaning of “prove” is “test,” as here in Paul’s letter: we should test all things, think critically to discern truth from falsehood, examining all that people say to discover what is valid and beneficial. Rather than accept all that we hear or read, Paul encourages us to examine ideas for their truth and value. In his day as in ours, the shifting sands of culture and false teachings abound.

The second part of this verse points to the reason why we need to “prove all things”—so we know what to embrace and cling to and what to reject: those false and harmful shifting sands. God wants us to thrive in Him; human culture does not. If we do not embrace God’s love, we can never have enough or do enough or be enough. In human culture, greed overwhelms grace. 

And so, I pray: in all things, may I thrive in relationship with Jesus, for His “prove” is enough for this scraggly, not-very-good gardener. More than enough, in fact, His good grace is all she needs.

Linkup with Five Minute Friday: https://fiveminutefriday.com/2025/05/01/fmf-writing-prompt-link-up-prove/