The Tree

I ran an errand yesterday and on my way back home, I saw something. I have passed that way before but never saw what I saw this morning. Went around the block and sat studying this old, battered tree for a minute. Got my camera out and took a photo of it. Amazing that it was still standing.  I followed its broken and battered limbs in each direction. Lord, that tree as been through some stuff in its life.  In twenty-six years, I have traveled that street many times, never noticed this tree before. I studied the photo many times over the last twenty-four hours.

We humans are somewhat like trees. They start out standing straight and healthy, we do to. They are watered, fed and groomed to grow. So are we. Time passes and “things” start to happen. Things not planned on. Just like us. Storms come. Strange thing about storms. They can bend us a little, they can break us or they can make us stronger with each one that comes. Like a good earthly Father, our Heavenly Father, desires that we become stronger through our storms.

This old tree has experienced some difficulties in its life. Some of the major limbs have been broken completely off. It has been twisted and wrenched at its trunk. But still it stands firm. What lesson would God have us find in this once beautiful and stately, now weathered and gnarled, old tree?

I went searching my Bible for a scripture that would fit with the experience this old tree has been through. Found the perfect one. James tells us that the one who perseveres under trial, is blessed.

You might ask, as I have during trials, how can what is happening be a blessing?  It is too painful to be a blessing! In my own experience, it is in the midst of the storm that we often question. We may temporarily take our eyes off of Jesus when the winds start to howl and the water rises to take us under. Scripture tells us that Peter was walking on the water, until he took his eyes off of Jesus. He immediately began to sink. We are no different.

We may cry out, “Where are you God?” Jesus felt forsaken as He paid the price for my sin and yours. Darkness fell over His soul because God could not look upon the sins the lamb carried on the cross. Jesus could not see His Father in the storm, for the time it took Him to complete what He came here to do. Until it was…Finished. We don’t always see or understand the reason nor the blessings in our storm events, until they are behind us.

Good advice would tell us to stand firm. Be still and know that God is in the midst of the storms we experience. Put on our full armor and go out to meet the giants in life that want to break us, cut us down, crush us. Pray! I cannot stress the importance of prayer. Continual prayer about everything… keeps our focus on the important things. Nothing is too insignificant to discuss with our Lord. Continuous conversation with our Heavenly Father, keeps fear and anxiety from overtaking us, especially in the times of trial. But the sweetest conversations are those we have,  when everything is going well. Conversation then is all about praise for what God has brought us through. James tells us that those who stand the test will receive the crown of life. The life that Jesus gave His life for. Eternal life. We have not been promised a life without trial. There will be trials. We are going to be pressed and pressed hard at times. Sickness and sorrow, worries and fear will come. But for those who love the Lord, they will still be standing when all is said and done. We have two places to stand, either here or with our Heavenly Father. We cannot lose.

I noticed that in spite of all this tree has weathered, it  hasn’t given up. It is still anchored to the ground. It is still producing. They are sparse in this early spring, but beautiful green leaves are emerging from the twisted and gnarled branches that have remained. The more I look at it, the more my eyes go to the green leaves instead of the twisted and weathered limbs. The tree may not look it, but there is still life in this old weather beaten tree. There is character in that twisted trunk. I plan to return and take another photo when the leaves are full. When  the beauty of the tree completely emerges.

Have you been broken and injured? Is the loss so great that you think you will not survive? Do you feel that your reason to continue the fight is gone?  That perhaps you have nothing left to offer? All those questions are a lie our enemy wants us to believe. If he can get us to give up, he has succeeded in stealing our peace. He is a bully. He cannot take us from the arms of our Father, so he comes after the next life altering thing…Our peace. I am not going to allow that. My prayer is that you won’t either. Anchor your faith to Jesus.  Persevere through the storms to bring forth new pages of your life, just like the leaves on this tree.  The pages that tell of your victories and storm overcoming faith. You are worth it.

~Scripture For Today~

James 1:12 

12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (NASB) 

~Prayer For Today~

Hello Father! Thank You for the little things that You put before us. Teaching moments that inspire us to keep going. Keep our eyes on You. Stand firm when the winds blow. That we will grab hold of the promises that belong to those who call You Father, so that we can weather whatever storms come our way. We pray that all may come to know You and testify to Your love for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

 ©2016 Kathy Ledbetter. All Rights Reserved.