I
love trees. Unique pictures of trees make me smile, there is just something
majestic about them. As I look at the trees that God has created, I realize
more and more how much our lives parallel them in so many ways. There are
thousands of different species of trees. Each one inside that species is
different as well. No two trees are the same. Some are tall, some are short,
and some have many branches, others not so many. One may be full of foliage,
the other not so much.
As people we are
all different too. We are alike and yet different in so many ways. We all need
the same things to survive. We need food, water, sun, oxygen. Yet we may be
from one culture or another, we all have different personalities. Some have
deeper roots than others. For some of us, our seeds are planted and we grow in
gardens and forests and never leave; some of us blow through the wind and grow
where we land.
Just like trees, some of us grow strong because we water and
feed our hearts and souls with healthy things. There are weak trees that aren’t
being fed the right things. If the environment we live in is making us weak, we
will continue to be weak and not live as strong and healthy as we should. Then
we will not survive or be as strong as we should be. As the tree’s branches
rise toward heaven, we raise our hands to heaven when the sun is shining on us
and all is well.
When dark clouds, rain and storms come our way in life and block
the sun, too often we wonder what we’ve done or why are we going through this.
We seemed so surprised when the rains come and darken our days. What we don’t
remember is storms and rains are a part of the cycle of life. It is needed to
make things grow. As much as we need the sunny days to feel good and strong, we
need the rain to grow as well. The deeper our roots, the more storm we can
withstand. You need the water for the roots to grow deeper. If you are married and the two of you stand
together side by side, the stronger you are in the storm as well, and the more
you protect your children during that storm. Feeding our roots with the Word of
God and Praising Him, Trusting Him and most of all having Faith in Him, will
grow your roots even deeper. Storms may strip you of your leaves, but you will
grow even fuller and stronger after it passes and be even more beautiful for
it. Even the fire storms in life purge the old growth to make room for new.
The best part? Storms don’t last forever. They eventually go away,
usually in a matter of hours or even days, but never months or years. Have you
ever seen a storm last forever? Keep looking toward the end knowing that
whatever you are going through, it too shall pass and the sun WILL shine again.
No matter the damage caused by the storm, you will grow once more. You will be
even stronger for it and yes, when the sun comes out you will raise your
branches to heaven and thank God for getting you through it.
How we react to storms in our life will determine the outcome.
Do we fear the wind and rain, the lighting and thunder? Or do we stand strong
and face it head on? Do we think that this will never end? Or this will not
last forever? Do we hold on to our Faith in God that He is protecting us,
growing us and feeding us through all the turmoil? Or do we think He has
abandoned us and left us to fend for ourselves?
Think about what kind of tree you are and what does it take for
you to grow tall and strong. How and what are you feeding your heart and soul
to make you the person you are? What can you do to be the person He wants you
to be?
Psalm 1:3 *
Matt 6:25-34 * Matt 7:17-20
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