Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Life doesn't always happen in the lush green valleys.
Sometimes you have to climb mountains.
Sometimes there's steep hills.
Sometimes there's rough terrain ahead.
Sometimes it's dangerous.
Sometimes it's windy.
Sometimes it's unpredictable.
Sometimes it's stormy.
Sometimes it's scary.
Sometimes there's a climb, a long, uphill, exhausting climb...
Sometimes we can't help but ask ourselves and our God...
When will I get to the top of this mountain?
When will I get past the steep hills?
When is the walk gonna get easier?
When is the wind gonna calm down?
When is the storm gonna pass?
When can I find rest and peace?

Trees are amazing to me. They fascinate me. I think they are some of God's greatest creations. My God speaks to me through...
You guessed it: Trees!
Some live in the valley, by the still waters of a creek.
Some live beside the still blue waters of a magestic bay.
Some live beside the raging waves of a mighty ocean.
And some, yet some, live on the rocky mountain tops.

Take another look at the tree in this picture above.... What do you see?
A tree. On top of a mountain. Between two boulders. Soaking in the sun. Withstanding the wind. Surviving the storms. Planted securely. Surviving. Thriving. Living.

This tree never chose where it's seed would land. Never decided where it would take root. Never had the choice between the valley and the mountain top. It just began to grow where it landed. It just began to take root in the little bit of soil it could find. It began to grow stronger with every gust of wind. It began to enjoy the bright unhindered sunshine on certain days and the torrential rain on it's branches on other days. It just began to grow...
It just began to grow between a rock and a hard place. With little soil. With lots of wind. With lots of rain. With plenty of sunshine.

To all who mourn in Israel, he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the Lord has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory.     Isaiah 61:3

A few weeks ago I shared about beauty for ashes...I love that God is the God who gives us beauty for our ashes, he fertilizes the ground even, with those ashes...
I love that he is able to give us joy instead of mourning when we turn our eyes on his goodness and provision.
I love that he gives us praise instead of despair and that so often that praise is the key to his peace in our lives. The peace we need in the middle of our storms.

I love even more that he doesn't stop there, but our God goes on further to plant you and me. To place us in good soil, enough soil to grow and to become strong. To provide the rain we need to survive. To be graceful to those near us in the process. To survive the winds. To make our roots grow deeper. To strengthen our branches with every new storm. To enjoy the sun so much more when the light breaks through the dark clouds. To enjoy it's warmth. To enjoy it's stillness. To enjoy peace in the presence of the sun beaming down on us.

FOR HIS OWN GLORY...

He plants us so that we can continue to bear fruit for His Glory, For His Kingdom. There is a purpose!!! Praise God! He is able, in His great sovereignty, to bring life out of the hard places. To make us grow even in those places. The steep hills have purpose. The long climbs have purpose. The wind has purpose. The rain has purpose. The storms have purpose. The sun has purpose.

I have been through storms, I'm certain there are more storms ahead. I have seen and experienced his great light from The Son. I've learned that eventhough there may be clouds that obscure my view at times, The Son is still there. He never leaves nor forsakes me to stand alone. He is what causes the silver lining to every cloud that comes.

Storms of life can be hard, down right tough and life altering. The winds can be very scary and move things around like nothing else. The earth can shake beneath our feet. Our roots can be uprooted and planted in a different spot.

I went to New York City several years ago and the most amazing thing I saw in that huge city was a tree. Yes, a tree. This was not just any tree. It was a tree that stood at the base of the twin towers when they were destroyed. A tree now known as the "Survivor Tree". The "Survivor Tree". I was overwhelmed and brought to tears as I stood there looking at that tree. See, I had a lot of things in common with that tree that day. I believe you do too. I had seen a lot of destruction around me. Things that once stood tall and proud no longer existed. The ground all around had shook. There was debris flying and a whole lot of devistation, hurt and loss. But that tree was still standing. I was still standing. You are still standing. The One who had created that tree, had sustained that tree. My Creator had been and would continue to sustain me, be my sole provider and hold my branches up until they became strong again. It's still a mystery to many who walk by the "Survivor Tree" as to how it survived. But, I believe I can say without a doubt, it was through Divine intervention. It was divinely kept and replanted so that everyone who sees it can know there is hope in the midst of destruction. It survives and thrives as proof to us that we can do the same.

May you be encouraged today that wherever your seed has found itself, God is able to nourish it and make it grow. He is able to strengthen and uphold your branches to weather any storm. You will, by His Spirit, show grace to those around you. His Son will shine bright and will give you warmth and peace in His presence. He is a good God. I declare over your life today: there will be beauty instead of ashes, there will be joy instead of mourning, there will be praise instead of despair because God has planted you for HIS OWN GLORY. You will produce fruit and it will be good. You too are a survivor tree!

Bearing beautiful fruit!!!

www.911memorial.org/survivor-tree