Even Bees Have Stingers: Guarding the Sweetness of Your Heart

Friend! I want to share something beautiful with you today, a truth that can serve as both a comfort and a call to action for you. It's a truth wrapped in love and wisdom, one that speaks to the sweetness of your heart and the importance of guarding it. Even in the most delicate things in life—like the bees that make honey—there is protection. Even bees have stingers. Yes, those tiny, humble creatures that bring sweetness to the world, creating the golden treasure of honey, are also equipped with a sting to defend themselves. And this simple truth reflects something profound: Your heart is sweet, but it needs to be protected. Your love, your joy, your compassion—these are treasures worth guarding, for even the most precious and delicate things can come under threat if they are not cared for.

But why do we need to protect our hearts? Well, the world can be harsh. There are moments when life feels like a storm, and your heart can get hurt by the sharp edges of life, the wounds from others, or even your own fear and doubt. The sweet honey of your spirit—your kindness, your goodness, your love—is vulnerable, and just like bees carefully protect their honey, we too must learn to safeguard the precious things within us.

Guarding the Sweetness of Your Heart

Scripture is full of wisdom on guarding our hearts. The Bible tells us that our hearts are the wellspring of life, the source from which all our actions flow. In Proverbs 4:23 (NIV), we are told, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Our hearts are the seat of our emotions, our thoughts, and our desires. They are the core of who we are. If we do not protect them, we risk becoming overwhelmed or corrupted by negative influences.

But how do we guard our hearts? How do we ensure that our hearts remain sweet, pure, and unscathed? It starts with what we allow into our hearts. Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Just as the bee stores its precious honey in a safe, secure hive, we are called to store up God’s Word within us. The more we meditate on the truth of His Word, the more our hearts are protected by the strength and peace of His promises. By filling our hearts with Scripture, prayer, and worship, we are able to filter out the negativity, the bitterness, and the fear that can so easily invade our hearts.

Theologian John Wesley wisely said, “Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen. Such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on earth.” The heart that is aligned with God’s Word and desires His ways will naturally overflow with love, compassion, and joy—and that is the sweet honey of your spirit that will bless the world.

Proverbs 16:24 tells us that “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Your words—the words you speak to others and to yourself—are just as powerful as the honey in your heart. When you speak with kindness, love, and grace, you are pouring out sweetness into the world. It’s like sharing your honey with others! Those words not only bless others but also heal your own soul. There is something so healing and restorative about speaking the truth in love, sharing encouragement, and lifting people up with words that come from a heart full of grace.

But let’s pause for a moment. What happens when we don’t guard our hearts and allow unkind words, anger, or bitterness to take root? Those words don’t bring sweetness, they bring hurt. So, guarding your heart means making sure your words reflect the love and truth of God, keeping your spirit sweet and healthy. When you speak with kindness and wisdom, your words will be as sweet as honey to everyone around you!

The Sting of Protection

Now, while bees produce honey, they also carry a sting—a tool they use to defend themselves when threatened. And this is where we can draw a parallel for ourselves. Protecting your heart doesn’t mean living in a bubble, void of challenges, disappointments, or heartbreak. Rather, it means being wise and discerning about what enters your heart and how you respond to the world around you.

Sometimes, protecting your heart may involve setting boundaries. It may mean stepping away from relationships, situations, or environments that are toxic or draining. It may even involve saying “no” to things that steal your peace or cause you harm. Jesus modeled this wisdom in His own life. In Matthew 10:16, He said, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” We are called to be gentle, loving, and kind, but also wise and cautious, knowing when to engage and when to protect our hearts.

At times, this may mean we have to be bold in defending the sweetness that God has placed inside us. Think of the bee’s sting: it is not meant to harm others but to protect itself. Likewise, we are not meant to keep others out of our lives, but we must be wise enough to guard our hearts from harm and not let negativity, resentment, or bitterness take root.

The Sweet Honey of Your Spirit

The honey of your spirit is what makes you who you are—it’s the beautiful fruit of your relationship with God. It’s your love, your kindness, your ability to bring joy into the lives of others. God created you to be sweet, to spread His love in the world, and to reflect His goodness and grace. But just as honey attracts, it can also be vulnerable to the wrong kind of attention. Sometimes, the sweet nature of your heart may attract criticism, rejection, or hurt. But, beloved, even in these times, God is with you, ready to help you guard your heart.

John Wesley once said, “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” Your heart is meant to be a vessel of love and goodness, a honey-filled vessel that blesses the people around you. But that sweetness must also be protected. You can’t pour out all of your love if you are constantly being drained. Guarding your heart means knowing when to give and when to rest, when to serve and when to be replenished by God’s presence. Bees don’t just make honey—they also create a home for themselves in their hive, which is a safe, secure place where they can rest, nourish one another, and protect their precious honey. The hive is their place of refuge, a home where the bees gather together, working in harmony and protecting the honey they’ve created. The hive is where they dwell—it’s their place of safety.

In the same way, your heart is like a hive—a sacred, protected place where God’s love dwells and where you can be nourished by His presence.

Psalm 91:4 (NIV) reminds us of God’s promise of protection: “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.” Just as the bee’s honey is safely protected in the hive, God promises to protect you under His wings. You are His beloved. He is not only your source of sweetness, but also your source of protection.

"Death, Where Is Your Sting?"

In all of this, we are reminded that even the sting of life—its trials, its hurts, its setbacks—cannot hold us captive. As the Apostle Paul proclaims in 1 Corinthians 15:55, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” Christ has defeated the ultimate sting of death, and in Him, we have eternal victory. We are no longer bound by the fear or bitterness that the world would try to place upon us. The sting of harm, rejection, or loss is no longer something that has power over us because Christ has already overcome. The sweetness of your spirit, the honey of your heart, is protected by His love and His victory.

Friend, protect your heart! Guard the precious sweetness that God has placed inside you. Be discerning, wise, and always seek His Word for strength. And when life feels like it’s threatening your peace, know that He has already won the battle. You are safe under His wings, and He will guard your heart with the fiercest, most loving protection imaginable. Keep pouring out your love and sweetness, but never forget to guard and care for what God has so lovingly created within you. <3