The trees have changed colour and most become barren as the seasons change. I used to wonder at people's enthusiasm about fall. I knew what was coming next. The trees would loose their leaves, sitting bare, ugly through the winter months.
Our life often goes through similar changes. We have difficult patches that sometimes seem to last forever. It is pretty normal to have a pity party for a while when you are going through that. You may have even found yourself mad at God. Many find themselves in a similar position, even Biblical heroes had those moments. Just don't stay there.
You may not see it but in the midst of what you are going through, God is making things happen...for you. We are similar to those trees. We may look dead but there are hidden things going on that are part of God's plan. The trees loose their leaves and essentially shut down to protect the plant through the cold months BUT God provided them with the ability to shed their leaves for another reason (among many more I am sure). Did you know that when they loose their leaves they also get rid of generational leaf eating insects they have laid their eggs for next year? If leaves stayed, these insects would take over the tree.
God always has a plan even when we can't see it. Maybe you should trust God that He has a plan. When you trust in God's love then you see things differently. You see them through new eyes or "unveiled faces", like the verse says. The challenging times can't keep us down any more. Instead of getting stuck, you have your arrgggg moment of frustration, turn to God to figure out the next step, shed unnecessary baggage and insects of forgiveness, hurt and bitterness that eat away at us, then move on. It is tremendously freeing to not get stuck in a season, instead refocusing and preparing to bloom again with beautiful leaves and new fruit....without the nasty insects.
The more you plug into God's wisdom, the more you will discover freedom to enjoy life and you are transformed. Have you been trying to get through your challenges by yourself? Do you feel overwhelmed? Give God a crack at it! He always delivers peace and clarity into any situation when you trust Him.
It's funny that you write about this. I had a similar epiphany one day as I was walking home from university on a cold winter's day.
ReplyDeleteI was going through a very difficult breakup: emotions mixed with misunderstandings, broken promises, hunger to help him with addictions, struggling to be free from my own entanglements, and learning that I couldn't save him or us. It was up to him, up to me, up to God ... Struggling to make the right decision, feeling so lost, abandoned, emotionally naked and open to the harsh cold winds of everyone and everything, an internal void of nothing gaped open at my feet.
Then as I was walking I saw a small tree. A few leaves were clinging while others fell. Snow piled up on its base. It looked bare and dying in the middle of its youth, before it had reached its prime. It reminded me of myself.
Then I noticed there were buds pushing through. In the middle of this incredible cold -23 weather, with so much death around, this little tree was struggling for growth.
I saw the tree and realized …. In the middle of even the worst moments, the hardest struggles, no matter what happens around you, … from all of this will always come new growth.
You will grow. You will be blessed. You will be green and healthy again, able to give and share your “green” healthy glow with those around you.
So keep pushing through. Blessings untold will keep opening as you press through.