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In Every Season

Life is simply hard sometimes. It can be messy and that is okay for out of adversity comes strength. Right? We build faith muscles along the way. Often, though, we tend to take up residence in the mess. We wallow. Or maybe, we find ourselves blindsided and disoriented and it takes time to get our bearings before we can manage to claw our way out of the mire. Then, there are times when someone comes along and throws us a rope. Don't you get tired of that feeling? I do.

I have prayed for several years now that God would reveal himself to me. I want to know Him for myself. Not what I am taught in church or what others say about who He is. I want to truly walk boldly and honestly before God the way He intends and be who He created me to be. Recently, I read in the biblical book of Romans that God makes His invisible qualities visible in the things He made. If we look, we can see God everywhere! The spiritual revealed in the natural.

Did you know that in the Bible, trees are often representative of men? For example, Isaiah 61:3 refers to trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord for His glory. Those trees are God's people. Those trees are you and me or at least where we are striving to be. So, of late, I have been studying trees. I ran across the most awesome description of the outer bark of a tree. The North Carolina Forestry Association site states the outer bark "acts as a suit of armor against the world by protecting the tree from insects, disease, storms, and extreme temperatures." Let that resonate. Selah!

We are all awfully familiar, I am sure, with the scriptural passages, Ephesians 6:10-18.

"...Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand..."


You see now, we have armor just as the trees do. We are to suit up in the armor of God to safeguard from the things that come to irritate and gnaw away at our spirit. We have access to a spiritual barrier during intense pressure and difficulties so that we can stand. We can stand in the heat of the day. We can stand in the winds of adversity. We can stand in every season.

"Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior, and my God."

Psalm 43:5

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  1. UnknownAugust 9, 2018 at 2:00 PM

    Wonderful writing about trees (which we are). Trees of righteousness planted by the Lord. Yes we are standing upright and strong, no matter what adversity comes our way.

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