When the hurricane rages (Part2)

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He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:8 (ESV)

 

 1. Withstand

For several years, storm after storm has swept through my life and that of my family. If there is a calm and with it the vague hope that the storm could have subsided, another, mostly even more violent gust arrives shortly afterwards. Sometimes I'm done with the world and my nerves, stressed and overwhelmed, the question remains in me: why? why me?

Wind means for a plant to withstand mechanical stress. Due to the constant force working against the tree, it cannot grow as tall, but the trunk becomes stronger, so strong that it can withstand extreme gusts.

OK. So storms in a Christian's life want to make us steadfast and grow tall to become a tree of righteousness.

Big, handsome. Unmissable. Its roots go deep, its crown far up. Even animals build their nest in it and feel comfortable. Fellow human beings find shade and support.

I am seen and appreciated. mediator between heaven and earth.

The annual rhythm is reminiscent of becoming and passing away. High-spirited, ostentatious, visible fullness and slow, quiet reduction to the essentials, until the turning point comes and new life is stimulated and can no longer be stopped.

Resurrection, death and hope of new life. Giving and refueling to be able to give again.

And then something is brewing. a weather. A storm. That no longer fits my ideal image. And it's part of it.

Shaken, shaken. Unpleasant. painful. disturbing. Dry leaves fly away, old and rotten twigs, even delicate flowers.

Loss. Grief. Legal action. Cleaning. relief. space for growth. And you think now is enough. 

The lull was just a pause. The wind pulls and pushes in all directions. The tension is great and strong enough to tear. It crunches properly in Krone.

How much longer can I withstand the pressure of violence? I can't go. Must endure.

Lord.

Until… hopefully not!

But even if I break or even get cut off, I can still have hope. I will cast out again, small and timid. keep growing. Somehow. It is God's indestructible life in me. Job also means this in chapter 14:7

In Isaiah 61 we also read of the trees of righteousness:

For them, the time of suffering is over. Our suffering will also pass sometime, every storm will eventually come to a standstill. Then God has forgiven all guilt. God has settled accounts with the enemies. Then we'll stand like them in glory, everyone will say, "God planted us Himself."

We wear the rejoicing like a robe perfumed with oil. We have discarded discouragement and sadness and washed the ashes of despair from our heads. God himself then shows his greatness and power to us.

In God's new world we are to rule with Him, so we must learn to endure, to stand firm, to be rightly aligned, and to take the Lord's point of view.

When it rages and storms, there is often nothing left but to raise your arms and look up and look at Jesus. 

Like a tree lifting its branches. Focusing our hearts on him, trying to be more like him by asking ourselves: What would Jesus do now?
And do it.

In fact, we become more like the Lord, good fruit grows that gets His approval and leads to victory.

2. Harvest

An olive tree bears olives. An apple tree has apples and the tree of justice can harvest fruits of justice. What do you mean with that?

Does that mean that everyone gets what is due to them?

What the Bible describes as righteousness describes a good, successful, wholesome life. Which brings us back to SHALOM.

Peace and justice go together, including kindness and kindness as a sign of wisdom. God's wisdom is sincere, seeks peace, is kind, willing to yield, open to words. Able to empathize and do good, is impartial, without prejudice and without hypocrisy.

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 

Author: Gabriele Waechter
Pictures: https://pixabay.com/de